Adam Gross is CEO of HarmonEyes, a division of RightEye. Adam has a 25+ year entrepreneurial career and is a veteran of three start-up success stories, most recently in healthcare consulting. At RightEye, Adam has led the development and growth of several eye-tracking commercial products which have become a standard in eye care, neurorehabilitation, professional sports and military.

At HarmonEyes, Adam directs the go-to-market strategy for its AI-powered eye-tracked solutions. He leads a team of world-class experts in eye-tracking science, data, and AI.

The impetus behind Adam’s passion for HarmonEyes is a commitment he and his co-founder (Dr. Melissa Hunfalvay) made: to utilize eye-tracking software to maximize the potential and improve the lives of as many people as possible around the world.

Adriano Palao has 9 years of experience in Automotive Engineering, within the Testing and Validation domain. After completing his Bachelor and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering by Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, he worked for Nissan Motor Corporation, Applus+ IDIADA, Punch Powertrain, and Mitsubishi Electric. In January 2022 took the role of Technical Manager ADAS/AD at Euro NCAP.

Alex Brantigan is current the Sr. Sales Manager at LG Electronics in North America responsible for the ADAS product portfolio. He is leading a team focused on not only ensuring safety but also enhancing the customer experiences through In-Cabin technologies. Previously he has worked at Aptiv and Scheffler with a BA from Michigan State University.

A former open-wheel racing driver, Alex Polonsky is a dynamic bilingual engineer who traded Silicon Valley for the heart of Detroit in pursuit of his passion for transportation and cutting-edge technology. Currently at the forefront of innovation as an electronics engineer with the Brose Group, Alex is not just shaping the future of mobility but also founded the Detroit Autonomous Vehicle Group (DAVG) in 2017.

Alexandra Mueller is a senior research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Mueller joined the Institute in 2017 and conducts research on the usability and safety of driver assistance technologies and driving automation. She received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Guelph and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Western Ontario. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at McMaster University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

With 30 year of automotive experiences in passive and active safety systems. The passive safety components include airbag crash sensors, seat belt tension sensor, seat weight sensor, occupant classification with personalized restraints, seat belt controller, engine fire suppression & prevention. The active safety components are Driving Monitoring System (DMS) with attentiveness and drowsiness detections, Interior Viewing Camera (IVC) for video streaming, In-Cabin Radar Sensing (ICSR) for child left behind, Occupant Monitoring System (OMS), and In-Cabin Monitoring System (IMS) to optimize the vehicle safety, user experience, and security performance. The future project is to integrate and fuse the exterior vision and radar based sensing data to DMS to predict and provide the potential inattentive driver for driving safety.

Driver Distraction Senior Specialist at Ford Motor Company, Anshika Chaudhary brings over a decade of expertise in aligning business and technology to meet customer needs. As a subject matter expert in HMI systems and driver distraction, she ensures compliance with NHTSA regulations and safety standards for global Ford and Lincoln programs. Anshika has led compliance efforts for vehicles like the F-150, Bronco, and Mustang Mach E, while collaborating with stakeholders to integrate user-centered design principles. She holds an M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering with focus on Human Factors from University at Buffalo and is an MBA candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Anshika is passionate about advancing design thinking in automotive HMI systems to enhance safety and user experience.

I am a Marketing & CX Manager at the US office for AUO, one of the largest display manufacturers in the world for TVs, laptops, phones, and of course, the automotive industry. My goal is to understand the dynamics of the market for displays, vehicle control panels, and mobility as a whole and leverage that knowledge for product and portfolio planning. I am a huge proponent of utilizing empathy and kindness in our daily operations and implementing creative visualizations to help cross-functional teams develop data-based action plans.
Prior to my time at AUO, I was an engineer for Ford Motor Company for over 10 years. With tenures in the NVH, Vehicle Dynamics, and ADAS departments, I gained a deep understanding of multiple customer-facing vehicle-level disciplines in the automotive industry and a wealth of knowledge from the talented and dedicated engineers around me. I became well-versed at the engineering challenges of lab testing, time-critical vehicle launch issue resolution, and evaluating customer experience and perception in some of the most unique areas of the United States. It was my deep interest in customer experience that led me to my current position in the marketing world.
I am a graduate of Michigan State University (BS) and Georgia Institute of Technology (MS) in Mechanical Engineering. Away from work, I spend my time on hobbies (woodworking, weightlifting, and music), trying new activities with my wife, and spending time with our two ridiculous pets.

Benedikt leads business and product strategy, partnerships, and customer acquisition at emotion3D, where he coordinates automotive sales and business development efforts. During his studies at WU Vienna he contributed to the establishment of the university’s entrepreneurship centre. Before starting his role at emotion3D he helped build the largest start-up accelerator in Central and Eastern Europe at the time.

Over his six years with emotion3D, he has contributed in establishing a diverse portfolio of automotive customers and fostering a robust partner ecosystem.

Brett Kruger is the manager of the Safety Critical Systems group at Hexagon Autonomy & Positioning. Since joining the team in 2017, Brett has overseen the technical development of precise, functionally safe GNSS positioning solutions, and worked collaboratively with numerous global OEMs and Tier1s to integrate these solutions within the sensor fusion stack to enable autonomous driving applications at SAE level 3 and beyond. Brett graduated from the University of Toronto with a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 2012 and joined Hexagon Autonomy & Positioning in 2014.

Brian has over 34 years of experience in product & business development. He built and currently leads the Product Line Management organization at Gentex, spearheading the development of new technologies, products, and markets, driving Gentex’s growth well into the next decade.  These product portfolios include digital vision, connectivity, sensing & dimmable devices … selling into the automotive, mobility, fire protection, aerospace & medical markets.  Brian joined Gentex from Visteon/Johnson Controls with over 15yrs of strategic leadership developing infotainment & connectivity products, platforms and system architectures. Earlier in his career he worked for DaimlerChrysler, ITT Automotive & Saginaw Steering Gear.

Carl Anthony is the creator of AutoVision News Radio and host of AutoSens & InCabin Insights. Often shortened to “AV Radio,” the small but influential podcast focuses on future vehicle technology, including next-generation ADAS innovations, electrification, and software-defined cars. Meanwhile, the Insights series is a valuable resource for the engineering community underpinning the world-renowned AutoSens and InCabin conferences and exhibitions.

As a respected automotive broadcaster and editor, Carl uses his voice and experience to uplift the industry wherever possible. He is a member of the Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation and a supporter of its mission to empower women in the automotive and mobility sectors. Meanwhile, Carl has appeared on popular podcasts and radio shows, including Wrench Nation, Cars Yeah, The Car Doctor, and Digital PR Explained, in addition to serving as a regular contributor on MotorMouth Radio on WHPC 90.3 FM.

Before the automotive industry, Carl was a disc jockey, producer, and programmer at several popular Midwest radio stations, including KIWR, KEZO, KJAN, and KELO-FM. He is a graduate of Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where he dual-majored in the Electronic Media studies program, earning Associate of Applied Sciences degrees in both radio and television broadcasting.

With over 12 years of experience in the automotive industry and ADAS technology, Caroline Chung manages the Interior Sensing feature development team and leads roadmap and strategy planning for the in-cabin space at Magna. Her team is responsible for the development of algorithms and models to address some of the most pressing issues facing occupant safety today. Previous roles include leading the advanced engineering of industry-first vision features at an OEM, LiDAR design and development, as well as vehicle and product launch. Caroline holds a BSME from Kettering University and is currently completing her MBA with a data science concentration at the University of Michigan.

Christian Hess holds a master’s degree in information technology from the Hochschule Mannheim, which he successfully finalized in 2020 with his master’s thesis about “Object Detection with Deep Learning for Autonomous Driving Applications” in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz AG. Since Christian Hess joined trinamiX GmbH in 2020, he has held different positions within the engineering department. In his role as team lead system integration from 2022 to 2024 he played a significant role in driving the hardware development of trinamiX’ biometric sensing solutions. From January 2025, he took on the role as product manager, shaping the product portfolio on Face Authentication and Vital signs in line with market demand. With a strong commitment to electrical engineering and information technology, Christian Hess continues to promote innovation and excellence in the field of automotive and autonomous systems.

Cyrille joined ST’s Imaging division as a Product Marketing Manager for the new Automotive Business Line in 2020. In this role, he has been instrumental in supporting and diversifying ST’s automotive offerings, driving innovation, and expanding market presence in this promising sector.

Prior to joining ST, Cyrille accumulated extensive experience in the field. He joined ULIS/LYNRED in 2002, where he initially developed new products and later managed customer relations in Asia and Europe. He then transitioned to an Operational Marketing role, successfully managing two product lines for eight years.

Cyrille holds a Master’s degree in analog design engineering from the Institut Supérieur d’Electronique et du Numérique (ISEN) in Lille, France.

Daniel Cashen is the Senior Fellow at Stellantis for System Architecture focused on design of Stellantis’s technology platform including AutoDrive, Brain and SmartCockpit systems.

David Ho earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2003 and 2005, respectively. His primary research focus was in digital signal processing, where he published several esteemed papers.
In January 2006, he joined OMNIVISION and contributed to the ASIC Design Department by developing various image processing algorithms implemented in CMOS image sensors. Subsequently, he transitioned to the role of Product Marketing Manager for the ASIC product line and later became a key member of the Automotive Product Marketing team.

Dave’s focus is designing products to fit people. He chooses from a wide range of user research methods to optimize physical, visual, tactile, and auditory user interfaces for automobiles, kiosks, web sites, apps, and production machines. His methods include usability tests, contextual interviews, focus groups, and analysis of published research and data on human capabilities. Based on the need, he conducts research in the lab, remotely, in the field, in cars, in the workplace, and in the homes of consumers. Dave has worked for a broad range of companies which include Hyundai Motor Group, General Motors, Eastman Kodak, Compuware, ForeSee, and Quicken Loans. Dave has also taught UX courses at University of Michigan, College for Creative Studies, Arizona State, and Washtenaw Community College. Dave is the principle of Clear Usability, LLC, offering user experience training, research, and usability evaluation services.

Bio – Detlef Wilke, Vice President Automotive Solutions. Nearly 25 years of Automotive experience at tier-1 suppliers. Focus on Driver Monitoring and Interior Sensing for over 7 years. He had roles in Business Development, Product Lead, Project Management, Sales, Technical Lead for SW and HW.

Dirk has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Hanover, Germany, a PHD in Laser Material Processing, University of Hanover, Germany, and received an MBA from WHU, Vallendar, Germany and Kellogg School of Management, Evansville, USA. He has held various positions in R&D (laser technology) and Sales and Marketing (sensors, manufacturing equipment) in addition to General Management roles in factory and process automation. He has vast industry experience in semiconductor, electronics, logistics, and automotive.

Dr. Björn Sondermann is Chief Engineer and Senior Manager of the In-Cabin Sensing division at Rheinmetall Dermalog SensorTec, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Dermalog. He has held this position since February 2023.
Since joining Rheinmetall in 2019, Björn has been dedicated to developing innovative in-cabin solutions—starting as an engineer and progressing to project leader. His team specializes in comprehensive interior sensing, creating advanced occupant models that serve as the foundation for a wide range of applications, from vehicle safety systems to enhanced comfort features.
Rheinmetall Dermalog SensorTec combines Rheinmetall’s expertise as a global automotive supplier and radar specialist with Dermalog’s leadership in biometric technologies, forming a powerful alliance to deliver integrated in-cabin sensing solutions using both camera and radar technologies.
Björn holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering, focusing on semantic environment perception and environmental modeling for mobile systems. With a strong background in computer vision and image processing, he plays a key role in advancing intelligent vehicle interiors.

Dirk Schulte is R&D Director, Advanced Engineering & Product Platforms for Valeo
BRAIN, responsible for Driving Automation and Interior Experience related research and development activities in North America. He began his career with Valeo in 1999 and
progressed through a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, starting in
powertrain/electrical systems, and now focused on ADAS, driver assistance systems
and cabin interior technologies for comfort and safety. During this time, Dirk spent 10
years in France, and 8 years in Brazil, deepening his understanding of automotive
technology and global customer needs.
Dirk has a passion for vehicle safety systems, automated driving technologies, and
human-machine interface technology that makes driving safer and more enjoyable. He
holds a Doctoral Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Aachen
(RWTH Aachen) in Germany and is based at the Valeo Technical Center in Troy, Mich.

Dr. Frank Althaus is Head of Engineering in IEE’s Function Innovation Task Force. Frank has more than 20 years of experience in automotive sensing development, having had leading roles in the development of such innovations as capacitive occupant classification (“BodySense”) and the world’s first capacitive hands-off detection system (“IEE HOD”).

Dr. Mahmoud Essameldin, Deputy Head of ficonTEC Research and Development. In addition, Mahmoud is responsible for technical leading several projects in the domain of autonomous sensors\micro-optics assembly development and testing. Mahmoud holds a Master of Science in Microsystems Engineering and completed his PhD in free-form optical design at Bremen University, Germany.

Eric Miciuda is the Product Development Head – North America for Display Solutions within Continental
Automotives User Experience Business Area. Leading product development and management of vehicle
interior displays and electronic solutions for nearly 25 years. Focusing on merging interior design with display
systems that excite and define the User Experience. Leveraging our team of global experts to bring cutting
edge advancements for Automotive.

Fabiano Ruaro is the Product Manager – North America for Interior Monitoring Systems within Bosch supporting product development and product management activities. With nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry with a wide range of roles including engineering, project management, product management, business development and general management. The team is part of a global effort to provide a full understanding of driver, occupants, and the entire cabin scene. Their automotive domain understanding combined with a strong expertise in computer vision and sensor systems enables Bosch to offer superior safety and comfort and make driving a safe experience.

Fabiano’s experience in automotive systems includes fuel injection systems, advanced driver assistance systems, such as automated parking, as well as driver and occupant monitoring systems using both camera and radar sensors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR) in 2002.

Born as a Robotics Engineer, my journey began with international experiences at the Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, and the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. Building on those early foundations, I ventured into the fast-paced automotive world, driving transformation as a forward-thinking project manager at Eaton Corporation and Sandvik. My path has since evolved into a customer-obsessed Solution Manager at TomTom, where I help shaping the future of mobility. Now based in Detroit—the heart of the automotive industry—I remain relentlessly solution-driven and deeply inspired by one question: How can we use technology to create a smarter, more meaningful life for everyone?

Grygorii Maistrenko serves as a Principal Engineer for the Filament Labs team at Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc., shaping the future of the modern vehicle through innovative sensing solutions.

I originally began my career as a Video Game Planner, where my primary focus was on enhancing user experience. After completing my bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, I transitioned to a role as an In-Cabin Software Engineer at Mobis. My goal is to bring my expertise in UX design into the development of our In-Cabin Monitoring System.

After graduating in Physics in the Complutense University of Madrid with master courses in Temple University, I turned to technology and now I account for over 30 years of experience in software development, systems integration, project, and product management. I have worked for all kinds of companies, highlighting my time at HP and more recently at Samsung Research where I had the opportunity to apply all my experience in deep learning-related projects. I’m currently Anyverse’s product technical expert and point of contact for applications such as sensor simulation or deep learning training using advanced hyperspectral synthetic data.

Jon Rose is a system architect and product definer at Analog Devices for the GMSL Automotive SerDes product line. He is responsible for defining next-generation IVI SerDes products and works closely with OEMs, Tier 1s, and other automotive ecosystem partners to realize complex IVI architectures. Jon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Following several decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, he joined the Maxim/ADI GMSL team in 2017.

Jorge Reynaga brings over 13 years of experience in semiconductor working for industry leaders including Intel, Texas Instruments and Cirrus Logic, specializing in audio and haptics applications. He is the marketing manager for Cirrus Logic’s automotive haptics and manages the applications engineering team working on innovative designs for a variety of customers and applications focused on improving user experience, enhance safety and enabling new technologies. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Julian Kornprobst is an experienced professional specializing in MEMS microphones and their integration into cutting-edge systems, particularly for automotive and consumer applications. With a strong academic background, including master’s degrees in Chemistry and Science, Technology, and Policy from ETH Zurich, Julian bridges the gap between engineering, technology, and customer needs.

Currently working as MEMS Sensor System Competence Team business lead at Infineon in the semiconductor industry, he focuses on creating value for customers by combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of system-level applications. This approach ensures innovative and robust solutions for end-users, such as advanced audio interfaces and two-way communication systems.

Julian has a proven track record of delivering engaging and impactful presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences, winning the best presentation award at Infineon Innovation Conferences several years in a row and starring in Infineon public communications material. Based in Munich, the Vienna native’s ability to connect complex engineering concepts with real-world applications makes them a sought-after speaker for audiences looking to explore the intersection of technology, systems, and user value.

Kelvin Low serves as the Vice President of Samsung Foundry Sales, Market Intelligence, Marketing & Partnerships, Business Strategy and Business Development teams. Prior to rejoining Samsung Semiconductor, he was the CEO and General Manager for SEMIFIVE US Inc and held other Technology, Marketing and Sales leadership positions at SMIC Americas, Arm Inc, GlobalFoundries and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing. Kelvin also had additional responsibilities as the marketing lead in the IBM joint development alliance and Common Platform. A market visionary, he has drove and built the Foundry Ecosystem and continuously seeks new solutions and partnership models to realize the next wave of innovations and ideas. Kelvin received his bachelor’s degree in electronics and electrical engineering with First Class Honors from the National University of Singapore.

With his extensive electrical and biomedical engineering background, Kyle Troutt is a dedicated leader of Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America’s Filament Labs Advanced Intelligent Cabin Solutions-Connected Vehicles team. With nearly a decade of experience in the automotive industry, Troutt is on a mission to revolutionize driver and passenger experiences. He works tirelessly to improve safety, the interaction between vehicle occupants and machines, and comfortability within connected vehicles.

Troutt holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.

Malte Ennen, Business Development, brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role. Graduating from Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg in 2017, he specialized in engineering physics and photonics, culminating in a robust understanding of these fields. His academic pursuits involved extensive research in system design and the development of concepts for laser micro processing machines.

Transitioning from academia, Malte joined Pulsar Photonics, where he was the technical system architect, contributing significantly to the creation of customized laser machines tailored for micro processing applications. His tenure at SmarActs metrology division further honed his skills as a sales engineer and operations business lead. Here, his involvement in projects focused on semiconductor and fundamental research applications solidified his grasp of these industries.

Currently at ficonTEC, Malte plays a pivotal role in engaging customers and addressing their unique requirements. His responsibilities include proposing assembly and testing solutions across diverse and demanding industries such as datacenters, autonomous driving, photonics and AR/VR. Through his expertise, he navigates these complex fields, offering tailored solutions and fostering collaborative partnerships with clients.

Maria Town is the President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. In this role, she works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

Previously she served as the Director of the City of Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities where she advocated for the rights and needs of citizens with disabilities.

Town is the former senior associate director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement managing White House engagement with people with disabilities. She also worked as policy advisor at the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities.

I’m a Research and Development Engineer with over 14 years’ experience working in the semiconductor and automotive camera systems industry. Currently, at Valeo, I am a software design and development engineer working on image quality algorithms on CPU and GPU architectures.

Martin Krantz is the CEO and founder of Smart Eye, one of the world’s leading developers of AI-based eye tracking technology and driver monitoring system software. Guided by his vision of bridging the gap between humans and machines, Martin contributes his 25+ years of experience to automotive innovation and a growing number of research projects, leading to new insights and technological advancement. Recognized on Bloomberg’s 2021 list of 50 Global Leaders, Martin is a world renowned expert in eye tracking and its commercial applications. 

Martin Kröger (Germany)
M. Sc. (Mechanical engineering)
DELO | Product Manager (since 2020)

Before joining DELO as a Product Manager for industrial adhesives, I worked as a Design Engineer at BMW for 3 years. Prior to that, during my Master’s thesis, I was a Simulation Engineer in Research and Development at DLR.

Matt Daley is Technical Director at rFpro – the leading simulation environment for the development and testing of ADAS, autonomous vehicles, vehicle dynamics and human factor studies. Matt’s career began in world championship-winning F1 teams where he honed his skill for applying fundamental engineering principles to solving important technology challenges. As part of rFpro’s expert team, he is enabling companies to use simulation in a wide variety of applications, from OEM vehicle dynamics to Tier1 sensor and system developments. Matt’s passion is to push the boundaries of simulation, ensuring rFpro is at the leading edge of modelling the real world.

Matt Parker is an accomplished professional with 10 years of experience in the field of ADAS, specializing in automotive radar for 8 of those years. Currently serving as the Interior Cabin Sensor Product Line Owner and Project Team Lead at Magna, Matt plays a vital role as the lead for the Interior Cabin Sensor (ICS) radar efforts, which he has been spearheading since the inception of its core development. With a comprehensive background in project and program management spanning over 15 years in the technology industry, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge, insights, and expertise to his current position, contributing to the continued success and innovation within his field.

Michael A. Nees is an Associate Professor and directs the Human Factors, Perception, and Cognition Lab in the Department of Psychology at Lafayette College. He was awarded a Ph.D. in psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2009. His research interests include human interactions with automation, auditory perception and auditory interface design, and assistive technologies. He teaches courses on human factors and engineering psychology, perception, statistics and research design, and disabilities and assistive technology. He also provides consulting services for user needs analysis, usability, and accessibility. Professor Nees taught previously at Spelman College and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Georgia Tech. He also worked previously as a research scientist at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center and as a consultant for clinical research trials.

Michael “Mick” Posner is a Senior Product Group Director in the Cadence Compute Solutions Group, responsible for Chiplet and IP solutions. A 30-year EDA & IP veteran, his expertise ranges from digital front-end to mixed-signal back-end design, FPGA-based prototyping and specializing in multi-die and chiplets. He holds a B.S. in electronic and computer engineering from the University of Brighton in England.

After years of disability rights advocacy, Michele joined Cruise in 2022 leading their accessibility efforts to ensure everyone, including people with disabilities can benefit from Cruise services.
Michele has a background working in finance and nonprofits, and currently serves as a board member of the Chicago Transit Authority. She is passionate about universal access to transportation, employment, healthcare, and equal representation of people with disabilities in the media.

Engineering simulation expert with over twenty five years experience in Modelica and Dymola and original founder of Claytex. During this time I have worked in some of the most challenging engineering projects for aerospace, automotive, motorsport and energy clients. For the past 15 years I have been involved in driving simulation projects using rFpro and Claytex have developed a comprehensive autonomous vehicle simulation solution called AVSandbox built on this experience.

Natasha Tkachenko leads strategic product management for ASMPT AEi’s core technology platforms: CMAT (Camera Module Assembly and Test) and PCT (PostCure Test) systems. She develops comprehensive product roadmaps through close customer collaboration, translating market needs into next-generation manufacturing solutions.

With over 15 years of experience as a process engineer, Natasha has guided numerous innovations from concept through feasibility to full production implementation. Her expertise in high-precision active alignment technology has resulted in successful global deployments operating in 24/7 manufacturing environments across multiple continents.

Natasha holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and a Product Management Certificate from UC Berkeley Executive Education.

Niall Berkery has a proven track record of taking technology companies from zero presence to commercial success in the automotive industry. He has deep domain knowledge in infotainment, connectivity, navigation and automated driving. Niall has built high-performing teams three times and has worked with major automakers across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Korea, as well as key ecosystem partners.

He began his career in Japan, spending six years as an engineer and product planner, and brings experience in product strategy, marketing, project management, and business development. Niall holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Norman Koren became interested in photography while growing up near the George Eastman House photographic museum in Rochester, NY. He received his BA in physics from Brown University (1965) and his Masters in physics from Wayne State University (1969). He worked in the computer storage industry simulating digital magnetic recording systems and channels for disk and tape drives from 1967-2001. He founded Imatest LLC in 2003 to develop software and test charts to measure the quality of digital imaging systems.

Pavan Vemuri is a product and technology leader with over 13 years of experience in the automotive industry, specializing in AI strategy and implementation. As the current Director of Product Engineering at SDVerse, Pavan is set out to shape the company’s AI strategy and bring cutting-edge AI capabilities to the marketplace SDVerse has built for automotive software. Pavan is also an expert in leading products and also increasing the adoption for products. In his previous role as Generative AI product and Strategy lead at Ford Motor Company, Pavan has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation and innovation in one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.

Through his experience with OEMs, Pavan has become an expert in leading global teams across diverse cultural landscapes, vehicle quality and its impact on business, delivering advanced vehicle features, product management, and MLOps platform development for software defined vehicles.

With a proven track record of successfully implementing and productionizing AI projects, Pavan has consistently demonstrated his ability to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical business applications.

Known for his adaptability and comfort with change, Pavan excels in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and machine learning. His approach combines technical acumen with strategic vision, enabling him to guide organizations through complex digital transformations.

Pavan holds an executive MBA from Oakland University and an MS in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen positions him as a trusted advisor to executives seeking to harness the power of technological innovation.

Peter Kristiansen is Head of Business Development at Embedl and has the privilege of working with finding business opportunities in a deep-tech environment. He has experience from the Automotive software industry from his work in introducing 2nd gen. Driver Monitoring Systems to Tier1s and OEMs in Europe, Americas, and Asia as well as autonomous systems, neural networks, and robotics from his studies. Apart from work Peter likes snowboarding and hiking.

Priya Boopalan serves as the Semiconductor Life Cycle Manager at ZF Active Safety and Electronics. With over 24 years of engineering experience, Priya has held pivotal roles in advancing ADAS Core engineering development. Her expertise lies in high-speed electronics, reliability analysis, and adherence to international automotive safety standards. As a Senior Member of IEEE, she actively engages with technical societies and is a holder of multiple patents. Driven by her passion for engineering, Priya dedicates herself to mentoring young professionals and women in the field, while also contributing as a judge for prestigious technology awards.

Professor Dr Valentina Donzella received her BSc (2003) and MSc (2005) in Electronics Engineering from University of Pisa and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa, Italy), and her PhD (2010) in Innovative Technologies for Information, Communication and Perception Engineering from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. In 2009, she was a visiting graduate student at McMasterUniversity (Hamilton, ON, Canada) in the Engineering Physics department. She is currently Associated Professor, Head of the Sensors area in the Intelligent Vehicles group at WMG, University of Warwick, UK. She has been awarded a Royal Academy ofEngineering Industrial Fellowship on camera sensors and she is the lead of the workpackage on sensor modelling in the EU project ROADVIEW; Before joining WMG, she was a MITACS and SiEPIC postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada), in the Silicon Photonics group. She is first author, co-author, and last author of several journal papers on top tier optics and sensors journals. Her research interests are: LiDAR, Intelligent Vehicles, integrated optical sensors, noise factors, sensor fusion, and silicon photonics. Dr Donzella is Full College member of EPSRC and Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy.

Riccardo Groppo has a long-lasting experience in the automotive domain. He worked at FIAT Research Centre for almost 25 yrs, being the Head of Automotive Electronics Dept. He has been involved in several successful technological transfer (e.g. Common Rail, MultiAir, Dry Dual Clutch) and has promoted the development of a family of intelligent smart drivers in cooperation with BOSCH and Freescale Semiconductors. He owns 40 patents. He is Chairman of the Automotive Working Group and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors within EPoSS (European Platform on Smart Systems Integration).
He has been the CEO and founder of Ideas&Motion Srl, a company developing high-tech smart systems for automotive applications.

He is the CEO and founder of Sleep Advice Technologies Srl, an innovative start-up in Turin (Italy).

Roger is CEO and founder of StrategiaNow Consulting, President of the Mobile Satellite User Association, and is an advisor to the International Telecommunications Union.  Roger draws on 25+ years’ experience in the technology industry as an analyst, journalist and consultant. Roger is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Sahil Potnis is an experienced Engineering and Operations leader in the field of Autonomous Vehicles over the course of the last decade. He brings in critical thought leadership for Autonomous technology development in the subject areas of Systems Engineering, Data Operations and Commercial Product Deployment. Sahil currently works as the Vice President of Product & Partnerships at Digital Divide Data (DDD) and is based out of the Metro Detroit Area, Michigan.

Prior to DDD, Sahil has held several leadership positions at self-driving vehicle companies such as Motional, Aurora Innovation and Uber exposing him to a diverse set of early business challenges and a steep technology trajectory in the Autonomous Systems domain.

Sahil holds a Master’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from University of Mumbai, India. With a unique crossover of Engineering and Operations background, Sahil continues to drive innovation around unique data solutions at DDD. Apart from his professional interests, Sahil is a keen artist and enjoys creative culinary adventures.

Sriram Palghat is a passionate technologist dedicated to developing responsible technology solutions that enhance the world. With more than 20 years of experience, he has profound expertise in AI, cloud scaling, big data, and advanced analytics. As an industry expert in autonomous vehicles and highly automated driving, Sriram employs advanced AI techniques in his work.

Sriram is currently the Director of Product Management at Qualcomm’s Automotive Business Unit, where he leads the Data and Simulation Factory and Data Centric AI products. Previously, he was the Lead Product Manager at Argo AI, an autonomous robo-taxi company owned by Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen, where he managed the autonomy stack, data pipeline, terminal, and fleet management capabilities.

Since 2020, Sriram has been based in the Dallas Metropolitan area. He holds an MS degree in Information Design and Strategy from Northwestern University.

Sukkun Kim: Principal Engineer at LG Electronics, specializing in front facing ADAS camera system and In-Cabin sensing system. With over 20 years of experience in embedded system and automotive software, lead development of driver and occupant monitoring systems for global OEMs.

Thomas Herbert is an accomplished engineering and business leader with over two decades of experience in automotive safety and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Currently serving as a Product Director at Magna Electronics, he leads global teams in pre-development initiatives, market analysis, and strategic planning to drive business growth.

Previously, Thomas held leadership roles at Veoneer, Autoliv, and TRW, where he spearheaded business development, managed global sales, and played a pivotal role in the launch of innovative passive and active safety technologies, including airbags, seatbelts, and driver monitoring systems.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Thomas has been a member and advisor for various industry organizations, including the Automotive Safety Council, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, CLEPA, and the MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium.

With various patents, he continues to drive innovation in vehicle safety. Beyond his professional career, Thomas enjoys golfing, traveling, and technology, and he values family, having been married for over 25 years with two children.

As a feature writer for Future Transport-News, Tiana covers news and updates related to a broad spectrum of modes and technologies that could help shape the future of transport globally. She is passionate about safe and sustainable mobility solutions and through her role at Future Transport-News, her content provides operators and manufacturers with the latest information on the sector and suppliers in the field.

Uwe Artmann studied photo technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne following an apprenticeship as a photographer and finished with the German ‘Diploma Engineer’. He is now the CTO at Image Engineering, an independent test lab for imaging devices and manufacturer of all kinds of test equipment for these devices. His special interest is the influence of noise reduction on image quality and MTF measurement in general.

Yishai is a business development leader with significant experience scaling early-stage tech companies in complex, regulated markets. At CorrActions, a neuroscience-based driver monitoring startup, he leads business development and partnerships with OEMs and Tier 1s. Previously, at a mobility-focused VC fund and incubator, he supported dozens of startups with go-to-market strategy and growth. With an MBA from Hebrew University, Yishai blends startup agility with commercial insight to help transformative technologies gain market traction in the automotive space.