Kornelia Papp is an artificial intelligence lead in the financial sector (Zurich Insurance Group). She is the founder of the NLP Zurich meetup group, an AI-driven, technology focused knowledge sharing series (https://www.meetup.com/NLP-Zurich/).

She developed AI applications in the area of speech technology, machine translation, fraud detection, natural language generation, language learning, and financial analytics. She currently leads the AI and automation activities at Zurich Insurance Group.

Roderick Soesman is a CEO with a proven record of turning technical service businesses into industry leaders. He combines decisive P&L leadership with deep experience in utilities, smart infrastructure and field service. His transformations raise performance and deliver profitable growth while building an inclusive team focused culture. Today he is focused on applying Agentic AI at scale in operations, predictive maintenance and customer service, with measurable impact.

Rutger de Ruiter is the Head of Product Engage at CM.com, a global leader in conversational commerce solutions. With a strong background in product management and innovation, Rutger is passionate about creating seamless customer engagement experiences through cutting-edge technology. At CM.com, he leads the development of the Engage platform, empowering businesses to connect with their customers via personalized and scalable communication channels. Rutger is dedicated to driving growth and delivering value by bridging the gap between technology and customer needs.

Frank Ebbers is a Data Scientist at ING Global Analytics with a strong focus on Natural Language Processing and Generative AI. After building a long career in the fashion industry, he made the bold move to study Computer and Data Science and joined ING in 2000 within the Customer Dialogue Analytics domain. Over the years, he has specialized in chatbots, speech analytics, NLP tooling, and most recently GenAI applications.
Today, Frank is leading work on “LLM-as-a-Judge,” applying large language models to evaluate chatbot performance, bridging the gap between technical innovation and real-world business value.

Leander leads Go-to-Market for ElevenLabs in EMEA, focusing on scaling ElevenLabs Agents. He works closely with leading enterprises to deploy AI voice agents across products and operations, helping them unlock scalable applications and measurable ROI. Based in Amsterdam, Leander combines a consultative approach with a proven track record in business development, building trust and long-term partnerships that drive transformative customer experiences.

Chris is a visionary in conversational AI, believing technology should adapt to us, not vice-versa. He champions chatbots and voicebots as tools to create a seamless, human-like interaction with technology.

As Solution Architect for Conversational A.I. at Rabobank, he leads all customer-facing Generative AI agents, demonstrating his practical approach to integrating AI into everyday life. His work, showcased with Microsoft and Genesys, exemplifies his success in building empathetic conversational solutions.

Chris's background includes leadership roles at Sogeti Global, involvement with DDMA Conversational A.I., and co-founding DCUG. With a strong technical foundation, he excels at bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI and business needs, making technology work for people.

Eline Sijtsma-van Aken is the Chief Digital Officer and Co-Owner of RIFF Digital Engagement, where she leads the company’s mission to create customer experiences that perfectly balance technological innovation with human empathy. With more than 15 years of experience in digital transformation and customer engagement, Eline helps enterprises deliver premium, human-centered service across all channels. Guided by RIFF’s motto “Be Digital, Stay Human,” she combines deep digital expertise with a passion for authentic connection - empowering organizations to transform complex customer contact into meaningful relationships.

Alex is the co-founder and CEO at Giskard, a startup dedicated to secure AI agents through exhaustive testing. Previous experience includes big data & analytics consulting at Capgemini, and lead data scientist at Dataiku where he worked the development of the NLP and time-series stack.

At Giskard, he's leading a team developing an AI testing platform that advances Responsible AI, enhancing business performance while respecting the rights of citizens.

Engineer in heart, ex-Product Director at Google, embarked on a mission to change the business model of the internet for the better with moojo.id.

Moran is a Senior Machine Learning Manager at booking.com, researching and developing GenAI, NLP and CV models for the tourism domain.

Moran is a Ph.D candidate in information systems engineering at Ben Gurion University, researching NLP aspects in temporal graphs.

Previously worked as a Data Science Team Leader at Diagnostic Robotics, building ML solutions for the medical domain and NLP algorithms to extract clinical entities from medical visit summaries.

Mark is the Product Manager for KPN's Digital & Voice Assistant and Gen AI, where he leads the charge in creating highly personalized and relevant customer experiences. Since 2018, Mark has been instrumental in developing KPN's mature, omnichannel digital assistant, grounding it in a 'digital first, human assisted' strategy. His current focus is on embedding generative AI to move beyond simple interactions and tackle the real-world challenges of building truly helpful and integrated solutions across the organization. With a Master's in Computer Science from Delft University of Technology and a background in digital strategy at Accenture, Mark is passionate about using technology to make customer experiences effortless and more enjoyable.

Aemal Sayer is the CTO and Co-Founder of Avanai, a specialist automation company dedicated to helping European SMEs streamline their operations using n8n-powered AI agents. With over 20 years of experience in software development and more than 8 years in AI/ML, Aemal leads the development of automation solutions that are practical, compliant with GDPR and the EU AI Act, and specifically designed for real-world enterprise systems.

As a recognized n8n Ambassador, he conducts hands-on workshops globally, educating engineers and business teams on how to build AI agents, automate legacy systems, and resolve high-friction workflows using n8n.

Carla Canino is the Founder & CEO of Kindlee, a Techstars- and J.P. Morgan–backed startup building the Responsible AI standard for financial services. With over 15 years of experience in fintech, inclusive product management, and payments innovation, Carla has led global initiatives at companies such as Blizzard Entertainment and Grover, and contributed her expertise to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Secure and Faster Payments Task Forces and Data Protection Working Group as well as to the W3C on financial accessibility standards. She founded Kindlee to address the urgent challenge of bias and fairness in AI systems, drawing on her personal experience navigating life with a disability and her deep expertise in compliance and product strategy. A recognized thought leader and guest lecturer on Responsible AI and bias reduction, Carla is passionate about turning regulation into innovation, and about shaping a future where AI in finance is not only compliant, but truly fair, transparent, and inclusive.

Christian Voigt is the Co-Founder & CEO of Avanai, helping enterprises reimagine work with AI agents and automation that deliver measurable results. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, automation, and AI, he previously built and scaled a successful company into a global market leader. Today, he combines entrepreneurial drive with deep industry expertise to help organizations unlock efficiency, compliance, and ROI, while also serving as Executive Chairman of AI Frankfurt Rhein-Main e.V.

Rafael Pierre is a Principal AI Engineer with a rare blend of experience across both AI hyperscalers and enterprise financial institutions. Having held key roles at Hugging Face and Databricks, he has deep expertise in large-scale AI infrastructure and open-source ecosystems. Rafael has also led the implementation of production-grade AI systems at major financial institutions such as ING Bank and ABN Amro, equipping him with practical insights into deploying conversational AI at scale in complex, regulated environments.

He specializes in advanced AI agent architectures, including Model Context Protocol (MCP), OpenAI Agents SDK, and session management systems designed for long-term memory in multi-agent environments. This powerful combination of hyperscaler innovation and real-world enterprise deployment positions Rafael as a unique voice in bridging cutting-edge AI capabilities with practical business outcomes.

Saskia is one of the driving forces behind our AI innovations as Lead AI Specialist at CM.com. With extensive experience in AI and personalization, she helps retail and e-commerce businesses transform their customer interactions. Imagine being able to scale your processes intelligently while maintaining a personal touch - that’s exactly what Saskia makes possible with the latest Agentic AI solution, HALO. Known for her passion and expertise, Saskia shares how AI Agents can boost (E)-commerce.

Dries Leclercq is a seasoned Chatbot Specialist at ING, where he has been instrumental in advancing applied AI solutions for over 12 years. With a strong foundation in customer support and business analysis, Dries has been building and optimizing virtual assistants since 2017. He played a leading role in designing ING's Generative AI chatbot blueprint, enabling scalable deployment across six countries. Dries bridges the gap between business, IT, and data, with hands-on expertise in platforms, and a deep passion for enhancing customer engagement through intelligent automation.

Rakesh Doddamane is an AI Strategy & Governance Leader with over 25 years of global leadership experience, currently spearheading Responsible Generative AI adoption at Philips. As the architect of the company’s Generative AI Centre of Excellence, he has established governance frameworks, ethical AI standards, and compliance mechanisms aligned with the EU AI Act while driving enterprise-wide AI innovation. His work blends Responsible AI practices with business outcomes, enabling cost savings, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer experiences. Passionate about ethical AI at scale, Rakesh has launched upskilling programs, communities of practice, and AI-enabled product innovations, empowering organizations to transform responsibly through user-centric digital solutions.

Thomas Neumann is a visionary leader in leveraging new technologies to transform customer experiences, with a focus on digital channels that create the "wow" effect. As a driving force behind global chatbot and voice assistant solutions, he is passionate about innovations that enhance customer satisfaction and boost Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

With over 15 years of experience in the mobile industry, Thomas brings a unique blend of international expertise, diverse roles, and exceptional interpersonal skills to the table. His work bridges the transition from traditional app-based solutions to cutting-edge conversational interfaces, enabling businesses to navigate the evolving digital landscape and deliver impactful, customer-focused results.

Jan Zubíček serves as AI Business Strategist at ČSOB, Czech Republic's leading bankinsurance group and part of KBC Group, where he bridges technical capabilities with business objectives to shape and execute strategic AI initiatives. With over 20 years of experience spanning IT, data, and AI domains, he played a key role in bringing Kate to life - ČSOB's groundbreaking conversational AI assistant that has handled over 10 million customer interactions and set new industry standards for personalized banking services.

His current focus is on advancing conversational AI as a transformative force for both customer and employee experience, identifying opportunities where AI creates value and guiding implementation across the organization. This includes product ownership of MyKate, an internal LLM-based assistant that enhances employee productivity across customer service, daily operations, and content generation tasks. His expertise combines deep technical knowledge with strategic business insight, gained from working with both startups and enterprise organizations throughout his career.

Tom Spoor is the Founder of OMB Digital, where he helps companies accelerate growth by transforming the way they approach sales. With a strong focus on AI-driven innovation, Tom empowers businesses to move seamlessly from prospects to deals through smarter, more efficient processes. His work centers on delivering measurable results for clients by combining strategy, technology, and hands-on execution.

At OMB Digital, Tom specializes in designing and implementing AI-powered sales solutions that streamline lead generation, optimize customer interactions, and enhance overall team performance. From automating outreach to equipping sales teams with actionable insights, his approach bridges the gap between traditional methods and next-generation sales strategies. By driving efficiency and improving conversion outcomes, Tom enables businesses to stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

Caspar brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience in the financial and insurance industry, with a strong track record in digital transformation and innovation. At Unirobe Meeùs Group (UMG), part of Aegon, he drove large-scale digital initiatives, building on his earlier success at ABN AMRO Private Banking International. There, he and his team earned top global rankings for private banking websites and digital channels, as well as industry recognition including a nomination as “Digital Transformer 2015.”

Caspar was active member of the Digital Transformers Experience Group, working with leading corporates such as Unilever, Inshared, Achmea, and Blokker on strategies to navigate digital disruption. With deep expertise in AI, automation, and customer engagement across digital platforms, he helps companies adapt and thrive in rapidly changing markets, while sharing his passion and vision for B2B client channels, LinkedIn, and digital innovation.

Jan Stober is a linguist working in the AI industry – skilled in product design, conversational UX and NLP applications, used in chatbots and voicebots.

Peter M. Buch is the founder of Findable, an AI-SEO platform making brands discoverable in ChatGPT and other AI search engines. A serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, he explores how agentic AI is reshaping marketing and customer growth.

Lisa Chiang, PhD in Physics, is co-founder of Cephalgo, where she leads EU project focused on conversational AI regulation and compliance. With experience as Head of Product for medical devices and leading chatbot development for mental health applications, Lisa brings expertise in both technical development and regulatory requirements.

She has worked on implementing chatbots across markets, identifying critical gaps in GDPR, PCI DSS, TCPA, and EU AI Act compliance. Drawing from this experience, her team creates automated testing and monitoring tools for chatbot compliance, bridging the gap between technical capabilities and regulatory requirements.

Olaf Wallaart is one of the driving forces behind product innovations as Lead Data Science at CM.com. With a wealth of experience in AI and personalization, he is a master at helping retail and e-commerce businesses transform their customer interactions. Imagine being able to scale your processes intelligently while still maintaining a personal touch -that’s exactly what Olaf makes possible with the latest Agentic AI solution, HALO. Known for his passion and expertise, he is eager to engage in discussions about Data-Driven Agentic AI.

Gabriel Ceicoschi is a Senior Software Engineer at CM.com, where he plays a key role in developing HALO, the company’s platform for building AI agents and automation. With over seven years of software engineering experience, Gabriel is passionate about making AI useful for everyone by prioritizing user experience, privacy, and security. His work focuses on shaping the next generation of digital products, from retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to agentic workflows, while sharing practical insights with the wider AI community.

Maria have been working extensively on developing and improving ING's first customer facing Gen AI chatbot whilst having a keen interest in shaping the future of AI-driven customer interactions. Passionate about exploring real-world applications of Large Language Models and continuously pushing the boundaries of Gen AI capabilities, by blending technical expertise with a customer-centric mindset.

Asaf Amirski is a seasoned product and strategy leader with deep expertise in conversational AI, customer experience, and the strategic design of agentic systems. He has led innovation across industries, developing AI-powered products that bridge digital intelligence with real-world business outcomes. A former entrepreneur in the early chatbot space, Asaf brings a practical understanding of how human-AI interaction is shaping loyalty, service, and personalization. His work centers on helping organizations turn every customer interaction into an opportunity for trust, relevance, and long-term growth.

Yoav Barel is an Israeli-American technology entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Chatbot Summit, and a Partner at Sunrize Research, with over 15 years of experience in Conversational AI and customer experience innovation. He began his career at Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and later LivePerson, where he led AI-driven customer engagement solutions.

As the driving force behind Chatbot Summit, Yoav delivers the event’s flagship State of the Bots keynote and curates its agenda, making it the leading global platform for AI innovation. A passionate advocate for Conversational and Agentic AI, as well as a quantum enthusiast, Yoav advises startups and corporations, helping them leverage AI to foster innovation and create lasting impact.
As the driving force behind Chatbot Summit, Yoav delivers the event’s flagship State of the Bots keynote and meticulously curates its agenda, establishing it as the premier global platform for AI innovation. In addition to his leadership roles, Yoav advises startups and provides strategic research services to corporations and investors, helping them harness AI to drive meaningful innovation and create lasting impact.

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