Joaquin Melara

Founder of SWARM Community, Host of The AI Digest Podcast

Joaquin Melara is a highly skilled content and event producer, focusing on strategy, branding, operations, and the responsible usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Over the last four years, Joaquin has produced media and conferences around AI that have featured global industry experts from organizations such as Adobe, Amazon, BayWa r.e., IBM, LexisNexis, MIT, Roche, Schneider Electric, Stanford, and Verizon. His expertise in event production has established him as a trusted advisor in the AI community, fostering great relationships built on trust, communication, and mutual respect. In addition to event production, Joaquin offers freelance business and project management consulting services, with experience in software development, lean product development, and operational management. Before his current role, Joaquin worked as a technical project manager, where he engaged directly with C-suite executives to translate their vision into production-ready software for various industries, including horse racing, call centers, and accounting. His role involved ensuring that complex business requirements were implemented seamlessly into functional software systems. Joaquin has also played a critical role in maintaining software at scale, supporting over 50 university partners while working for an EdTech startup. Additionally, as a consultant, he has supported startups across a wide range of industries, including AI SaaS platforms, OLED chemical products, pain management, life coaching, wellness retreats, mycology, hydroponics, and independent coffee roasting. Joaquin’s educational background, coupled with his diverse professional experiences, has equipped him with a unique perspective on AI, project management, and operations. His extensive experience speaks to his commitment to ongoing professional development. Joaquin continues to contribute to the discourse on AI, content production, and operational excellence through his work, further solidifying his position as an industry thought leader.

Madan Pernati

Computer Vision Expert

Madan Pernati is a seasoned Director with over 12 years of experience in IT leadership roles, specializing in AI-driven solution design and project delivery. He has managed global teams of over 200 staff members, overseeing all aspects of sales enablement, software development, security, and infrastructure. Madan’s expertise in Vision AI solutions has enabled him to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies that are widely used by both governments and private businesses worldwide. He is a high-performing leader, known for driving business success while maintaining composure under pressure. Madan is also at the forefront of pre-sales and business-to-business growth initiatives, making him a key player in the AI industry. Throughout his 16-year career, Madan has been instrumental in leading engineering teams focused on Vision AI, spearheading innovative solutions that have transformed industries globally. His leadership extends beyond technical capabilities, as he has also managed large-scale operations, including budget management and global system oversight. His strategic approach has consistently delivered growth, improved operational efficiency, and driven successful outcomes for the organizations he has led. Madan’s experience spans across diverse sectors, ensuring he brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to every project he manages. Madan’s extensive experience in AI and IT leadership roles, combined with his dedication to innovation and business growth, positions him as a forward-thinking leader in the industry. His proven track record and hands-on experience demonstrate his commitment to continuous learning and excellence in technology. His contributions to Vision AI and IT leadership have been recognized in various business and technology sectors, further establishing his reputation as an influential leader in the field.

Armon Rahgozar

Principal Consultant at AAR Innovation Consulting

Armon Rahgozar is a recognized Data Product Innovation Leader, celebrated for his ability to introduce first-to-market, platform-based solutions that align with business objectives, accelerate time to market, and enhance B2B and B2B2C customer experiences. As an Innovation Leader at Conduent, he managed over 220 reports, leading the development of innovative technologies across 16 business units spanning Commercial, Government, and Transportation divisions. Under his leadership, Armon successfully launched an AI/ML/CV platform that included cutting-edge solutions such as Vehicle Occupancy Detection and Traffic Pattern Analysis. He also pioneered the development of GenAI PoCs for key applications like Agent Call Summarization and Medical Claim Data Extraction, driving forward the integration of advanced technologies in diverse sectors. At Conduent, Armon played a pivotal role in building the company's innovation function from the ground up, scaling a global team to over 220 members within 18 months across multiple continents, achieving a remarkable retention rate of 85% over seven years. His leadership fostered a companywide culture of innovation, with more than 70% of the innovations he spearheaded being commercialized. Armon also led the development of a comprehensive Azure-based BI-DW platform serving multiple business divisions, earning Conduent the “Leader, Advanced Analytics NEAT” designation from Nelson Hall in 2019. His contributions to business process automation and optimization at PARC reduced labor costs by 20%, increased operating margins by 7%, and accelerated cycle times by 30%. Armon holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, contributing to 20 patents and publishing over 10 scientific articles throughout his career. His deep scientific and technical background has enabled him to lead and motivate scientific and technology teams, driving real-world outcomes through advanced innovations in data, AI, and machine learning. With his wealth of expertise and passion for fostering innovation, Armon has consistently delivered products, built high-performing teams, and cultivated trusted relationships with decision-makers across industries.

Boris Kriuk

CEO at Sparcus Technologies

Boris Kriuk is a globally recognized leader in machine learning, data science, and deep learning. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sparcus Technologies Limited, an international research-oriented startup that develops AI solutions for logistics and supply chain management. At Sparcus, Boris leads groundbreaking advancements in deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and MLOps. His expertise has driven innovation in these fields, positioning Sparcus as a pioneer in applying machine learning technologies to complex logistical challenges. Boris is also a thought leader and active contributor to the Association for Computing Machinery and the Computer Vision Foundation, where his contributions continue to inspire advancements in the global AI landscape. Prior to his work at Sparcus, Boris co-founded and served as CEO of Heurica, a platform dedicated to connecting the global research community to real-world opportunities. His research tenure at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology focused on biomedical computer vision, where he worked on imbalanced data approaches, loss function analysis, and transfer learning techniques. Boris has published key works, including "Non-Leidenfrost Levitation of a Droplet Over Liquid Surface" at the 5th International Conference on Droplets and "Deep Learning-Driven Approach for High-Complexity Character Classification" at AI Journey 2024. His research in deep learning and computer vision continues to push the boundaries of AI innovation. Boris Kriuk has contributed to the academic and research communities, publishing several papers on machine learning and computer vision. His recent works include "Multi-Objective Approach for Similarity Function Optimal Threshold Selection in Siamese Networks in STS Tasks," presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics in 2024. With a strong foundation in research and development, Boris remains dedicated to advancing AI methodologies, particularly in deep learning and natural language processing. His ongoing efforts continue to shape the future of AI, influencing both academic circles and real-world applications.

Sivaram Annadurai

AI Strategist / Solution Architect

Sivaram Annadurai is an AI Strategy and AI Solution Architect with a wealth of experience in applying vision technologies across various industries. His work encompasses beauty, education, fashion, healthcare, cybersecurity, and retail, where he has successfully implemented advanced AI technologies such as Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, and Deep Learning. Notably, he developed state-of-the-art classification models for the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, achieving over 80% accuracy in plant identification. Additionally, he architected an AI solution for Unilever, combining Vision AI and Generative AI for product detection and personalized recommendations in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. Sivaram’s expertise in leveraging AI for business value has been instrumental in driving customer experience improvements, such as creating "Meal Reveal," an AI-powered tool for Hellmann's aimed at reducing food waste by suggesting recipes based on fridge contents. Throughout his career, Sivaram has collaborated with high-profile organizations such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Publicis Sapient, where his AI-driven solutions have transformed customer journeys, business processes, and operational efficiency. He has applied Generative AI to enhance the customer experience for leading specialty retailers and led vision-based models aimed at reducing churn in the fashion industry. His ability to combine AI with practical business needs has made him a sought-after expert across multiple sectors. Sivaram’s work has consistently delivered results, positioning him as a leader in Video-Image-Text-Data integration and business intelligence solutions. Sivaram holds a Master’s Degree in Data Science from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad and a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Bharathiar University. His deep technical expertise is underscored by two granted patents in real-time video analytics and IoT network alert systems. Committed to advancing AI education, Sivaram has contributed to curriculum design and professional training programs with leading institutions such as upGrad, Emeritus, and the Institute of Product Leadership. His unique combination of hands-on experience, technical skills, and thought leadership makes him a pivotal figure in the future of AI and its application across industries.

Sumegh Tharewal

Associate Professor at DBS Global University

Sumegh Tharewal is an Associate Professor in the School of Advance Computing at DBS Global University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. With over 13 years of experience in research and academics, Sumegh has made significant contributions to the fields of Blockchain Technology, Biometrics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Pattern Recognition, and Image Processing. His research work is widely recognized, with more than 40 publications in prestigious international conferences and peer-reviewed journals such as IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier. Sumegh holds 25 Scopus-indexed papers and has received 422 citations with an h-index of 11 on Google Scholar, reflecting the impact of his research. In recognition of his outstanding work, he has received numerous awards, including the Indo Asian Young Scientist Award in Biometrics (2021) and the Research Excellence Award (2019) from the Institute of Scholars, Bangalore. Before his current role, Sumegh worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, and as an Assistant Professor at Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR), Pune. As Program Head of M.Sc. Blockchain Technology at Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, he shaped the future of blockchain research and education. Throughout his career, Sumegh has worked with esteemed institutions, including Manipal University Jaipur and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, where he completed his PhD in Computer Science and Information Technology. He has successfully completed five research projects and is currently leading four ongoing projects. Additionally, Sumegh has been granted 15 patents globally, with grants from the Governments of India, Australia, Germany, South Africa, and the UK. Sumegh Tharewal earned his PhD from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra, and received two prestigious fellowships during his studies: the UGC SAP BSR Fellowship and the Avishkar Fellowship. As a dedicated mentor, he has supervised over 50 postgraduate and undergraduate students in their research projects. In his role as a PhD supervisor at Symbiosis and Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, and as a co-supervisor at Manipal University, Jaipur, Sumegh continues to guide future innovators. His extensive academic and research background, along with his numerous accolades and patents, positions him as a prominent leader in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and blockchain technology.