Peace by Design: AI & Tech @ ZeroSpace

Speakers:
Francesca Sala, Cybersecurity Specialist: Tech-Savvy Professional in Cybersecurity, Geospatial Intelligence, and Cloud Computing.

Jasmine Greenaway, Senior Cloud Advocate , Microsoft ($227.58B ARR): Jasmine is generalist in developer relations, focused on databases and AI for developers at Microsoft. I also have a passion for computer science education and sharing practical technical knowledge.

Jasmine empowers aspiring technologists by equipping them with the confidence and knowledge they need explore the infinite number of possibilities in this field; she believe this space has room for everyone and is passionate about proving that they belong here.

As an international speaker, published author, and lecturer in higher education, Jasmine bring her authentic self to the communities and learners she serves with enthusiasm and empathy.

Shivika Arora, Product Manager - Tech Center (Enterprise Technology), J.P. Morgan ($20.68B ARR): Shivika Arora has extensive experience in financial data analytics and product management. She has recently had the opportunity to build and showcase expertise in tech product evolution and adoption and be a strategic partner to senior Tech leaders in deploying key tech priorities and programs.

Christelle Scharff, Professor of Computer Science at Pace University & Serial Entrepreneur, Pace University - Lubin School of Business ($459.75M ARR): Dr. Christelle Scharff is a Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean at Pace University in NY. She has a Ph.D. in Symbolic Artificial Intelligence (Theorem Proving and Automated Deduction) from INRIA, the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology. She published more than 30 papers in artificial intelligence, mobile for social change and global software engineering. She was awarded grants from NSF, IBM, Microsoft, and Google. She taught in France, Senegal, Benin, Cambodia and Vietnam. She was a US Fulbright scholar in Senegal in 2012 and 2019. Parallelly, Christelle is serial entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of the mJangale coding school (https://mjangale.com) that focuses on introducing youths to coding in Senegal.

Madona Wambua, Principal Software Engineer - Card Tech (Fraud) Principal Software Engineer, Capital One, NA ($35.76B ARR): With over a decade of experience in software engineering, I specialize in building scalable mobile solutions and leading high-performing engineering teams. As a Google Developer Expert for Android, Author, Principal Software Engineer, and Executive MBA candidate at Cornell University, I bring a unique blend of technical depth, leadership, and business strategy. My work bridges innovation, mentorship, and impact at both organizational and community levels.


Ume Habiba, Software Engineer, Microsoft ($227.58B ARR): My name is Ume, and I’m a first-gen undergraduate student at the University of Maryland! I have a strong background in computer science, with major areas of focus being frontend development (ReactJS, Node, JavaScript, Angular), backend development (Java, Groovy), Mobile App Development (Swift), and teaching CS cirriculum to underrepresented individuals! I’m also experienced in C, Unix, R, assembly language, Ruby, and Python.

I have been an active public speaker for the past year, and am looking to speak at any events that revolve around tech mentorship + tech diversity! I have spoken to over 5000 individuals worldwide, and hope to increase that number often! I’ve spoken on panels, at workshops, and was a speaker series co-host for Kode With Klossy this summer!

Denise Bowen, Founder & CEO, DB Connect | UNODC Cybercrime Advisor & Speaker | AI & Global Policy Leader, United Nations ($53.20B ARR): Denise Bowen is a leader at the intersection of technology, social impact, and global policy. As founder of DB Connect, she leverages expertise in AI, UX design, and brand architecture to scale socially conscious ventures. Harvard Law School Zero-L certified, she provides strategic legal counsel to drive innovation.

Denise advises the UNODC Cybercrime Committee, shaping global cybercrime policy, and accelerates the UN's Universal Health Coverage division. At FreeWill, her mentorship helped generate over $7.2 billion for philanthropic causes. She also advises alumni of Harvard's Technology Venture Incubator.

A dedicated mentor, she has guided over 700 founders in Verizon's Digital Ready Program and judges competitions like Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition Prize. Denise serves on advisory councils for ForbesBLK and Emblem Health and is an ambassador for Black Girls in Cyber. Her honors include Latin Honors and the NYU Founders' Day Award.

Akaki Khvedelidze, Information Management Officer , United Nations ($53.20B ARR): Combining technical expertise with strategic vision, I am an experienced ICT professional and Data Engineering Specialist with over 15 years of international experience. I have consistently delivered transformative IT solutions, data analytics, and AI-driven innovations for the United Nations. Currently based at the UN Headquarters in New York, I lead high-impact projects that leverage advanced technologies to drive decision-making and operational efficiency at the highest levels.

My expertise lies in managing complex IT infrastructures, data platforms, and cloud computing environments (Azure, AWS, VMware). Certified by MIT in Data Engineering, I excel in building scalable data solutions and leveraging AI for automation and predictive analytics, making me a key player in digital transformation initiatives.

Anu Srivastava, Sr Staff Technical Marketing Manager Sr Staff Technical Marketing Manager, NVIDIA ($6.90B ARR): Anu Srivastava leads open model marketing at NVIDIA where she works with partners to grow accelerated frameworks in the open source and public AI ecosystem. She focuses on technical content collaboration with top open model builders: Llama (Meta), Gemma (Google DeepMind), Phi (Microsoft), Qwen (Alibaba) and key inference software projects such as Ollama, vLLM and SGLang.

She previously worked at Google for over 10 years starting her career as a software engineer and exiting as a Developer Relations Manager for Google Cloud and a member of the Google IO Steering Committee. She is skilled at managing the full product lifecycle from resource planning, early access programs all the way through to deprecations and migrations. She has expertise working cross-functionally with product, marketing, sales and more in large organizations to make sure the highest quality developer experience is delivered for the developer community.


Peta-Gay Clarke, Pace University ($459.75M ARR): I am a Strategy & Operations Executive and Global Programs Leader with 15+ years of experience at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact. A former software developer turned executive leader, I bring a rare blend of technical depth, operational excellence, and people-centered leadership.

At Google, I helped launch and scale transformative initiatives across Google Research, People Operations, Engineering Education, and Google.org - most notably as a founding member of Google Code Next, a national program designed to empower students to pursue careers in tech. As a Global Programs Lead within Google.org, I directed a multi-million dollar portfolio, leading a team of 40+ to deliver education and AI initiatives that reached 150,000+ women and youth in 190+ countries.