Speaker

Florian Brugger studied economics and sociology at the University of Graz and holds a doctorate in economics and sociology. In addition, Florian Brugger completed a Master’s degree in Data and Information Science at the FH Joanneum Graz. Florian Brugger has been working at Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark since 2020. Between 2020 and 2022, he was responsible for the development of omnichannel sales management and customer analytics in the Raiffeisen Banking Group Styria. Since 2022, he has been Head of Department for Software Development, Data Science, Automation, Business Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence.

Head of AI, BI, Automation, Software Development Department, Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark

Jürgen Altenriederer is a Digital Solution Consultant at the Digital Makers of CANCOM Austria AG. He works on the development and implementation of data-based solutions with cloud, IoT and AI technologies and combines technical system understanding with a clear focus on practical process optimization. Together with his customers, he designs technical solutions so that they achieve clear benefits and comprehensible results.

Digital Solution Consultant, CANCOM Austria AG

Kai Dresia studied aerospace engineering and is head of the Systems Analysis and Control team at the Institute of Space Propulsion at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). For his doctorate, he researched the use of AI in space propulsion systems and developed an AI-based controller, which he successfully tested on the test bench. He is particularly interested in the question of how AI can be used safely and responsibly in safety-critical applications such as rocket engines.

Head of the Systems Analysis and Control Team, German Aerospace Center

Karin Kaltseis has more than 25 years of experience in process engineering as well as GMP and qualification services, particularly in API and biopharmaceutical plants, transport validations and temperature mapping. As Director Quality Management at VTU Group, she is responsible for the implementation of management systems (ISO 9001, SCC), process definitions and quality training for all employees. She is also the VTU Group’s Data Protection Officer and monitors compliance with the GDPR.

Director Quality Management, VTU Group

Petia Niederländer took on the role of Director of Payments, Risk Supervision and Financial Education at the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) in 2021. In this position, she is in charge of the payment strategy and the digital euro project within the central bank of Austria. Prior to joining the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Ms. Niederländer held several management positions in one of Austria’s largest banks, was Chairwoman of the EBA Clearing Board and a member of national and international payment committees.

Director of the Payment Transactions, Risk Monitoring and Financial Education Department, Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Harald Leitenmüller, born in Linz in 1965, is Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Austria. He is committed to ensuring that business and society can responsibly fulfill their creative mandate – through competence and control in the use of digital technologies. His work focuses on technology policies, responsible AI and the competitiveness of the local IT ecosystem. Harald is a Microsoft Responsible AI Champ, certified Professional AI Expert and recipient of the Microsoft Platinum Award. He has been teaching Responsible Innovation, especially Responsible AI, for many years and is currently working intensively on the aspects of Responsible AI Economy and Sovereignty.

He is also Vice President of the Digital Offensive Austria and heads the Department of AI and Technology at the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna. He studied communications engineering at the Vienna University of Technology, is married and lives with his family in Brunn am Gebirge.

Harald Leitenmüller, Chief Technology Officer Microsoft Austria GmbH

Dr. Josie-Marie Perkuhn heads the postdoctoral joint project Taiwan as a Pioneer (TAP) at Trier University and is a research assistant in the Department of Sinology. She studied Political Science and Classical Sinology and received her doctorate from Heidelberg University in 2018. She has been a non-resident fellow at the Institute for Security Policy (ISPK) at Kiel University since 2018. Her research topics include innovation in Taiwan and China with regard to global megatrends, foreign policy analysis and China’s role in international relations.

Head of the joint project “Taiwan as a Pioneer” (TAP) / University of Trier

Dr. Ramin Hasani is co-founder and CEO of Liquid AI. Previously, he was a Principal Machine Learning Scientist at Vanguard Group and a Research Affiliate at MIT CSAIL. Ramin’s research focuses on robust deep learning and decision making in complex dynamic systems. Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT CSAIL, where he led research on modeling intelligence and sequential decision making. He received his PhD with honors in Computer Science from the Vienna University of Technology, Austria. His PhD thesis and his continued research on liquid neural networks have been recognized internationally with numerous nominations and awards.

Co-founder & CEO, Liquid AI

Andreas Zehetner is an internationally experienced entrepreneur and top management consultant for digitalization, innovation and technology. With a background in electrical engineering and business administration, he supports international organizations of various industries and sizes with a focus on AI/digital transformation, business agility and change management. He plays in a rock’n’roll band and even had a hit in the Austria Top 40. As the musical career did not scale, he founded two companies in the fields of machine learning and advanced analytics. He then worked as an Associate Partner for Transformations at McKinsey for 10 years. Today, Andreas is an Associate Partner at Timmermann, responsible for AI/digital transformation. As an Austrian, he supports the organizations on site with a combination of “big-picture thinking” and “doing”.

Associate Partner, Timmermann

“Clear on the matter, soft on people.” – That is the motto of AI transformation expert Michael Timmermann. At the age of 12, he sold plums, firecrackers and pirated music in the school playground. At 19, he founded his first company with venture capital. He is a psychologist, ex-McKinsey consultant, agility expert, coach and outdoor trainer. Michael is the founder and CEO of Timmermann, one of Europe’s leading change companies. In addition to consulting for transformation projects, this includes Change Communication, Timmermann Digital, New-Work Architecture & Design, the Timmermann Academy and Timmermann Social. The credo “With bright minds and open hearts, we shape change with clients who reeeally mean it” shows Timmermann’s combination of design and implementation – done by a 50-strong team of software specialists, consultants, psychologists, agile coaches, trainers and communicators.

Founder & CEO, Timmermann