Kathleen Walch is a recognized leader in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. She serves as Director of AI Engagement & Community at the Project Management Institute and is co-founder of Cognilytica, where she helps organizations demystify AI and apply it responsibly to drive business value. Kathleen is co-developer of the Cognitive Project Management for AI (CPMAI) methodology, widely adopted by Fortune 500 companies, governments, and NGOs as a global standard for managing AI initiatives. Through her work, she inspires leaders to embrace emerging technologies with confidence, curiosity, and vision.

Dr. Kelly Heuer is Vice President of Learning at Project Management Institute (PMI), leading the Institute’s global Learning division with over 20 years of experience in higher education. She oversees professional standards and publications, live and enterprise training, and digital and on-demand learning products that equip project professionals worldwide for success. Kelly holds an A.B. from Harvard University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Georgetown University. She began her career at Georgetown, helping launch its first MOOC in bioethics and co-founding an ethics and social innovation lab, and most recently served as Vice President of Learning Experience at edX, advancing digital learning strategy and innovation.

Read Full Biography

Tommy Ogden is a Director and Delivery Excellence Lead at Activera Consulting, a Houston-based management consulting firm focused on accelerating business outcomes in the future of energy. With 22 years of experience across investment advising, financial and business analysis, management consulting, and project and program management, he brings a broad, cross-industry perspective. Tommy holds certifications as a Professional Scrum Master (PSM), SAFe® Practice Consultant (SPC), and Project Management Professional (PMP)®, and is known for delivering innovative, actionable solutions across agility, analytics, and energy initiatives.

Sameer Anand is a seasoned leader in business agility, portfolio and program management, strategy execution, and Lean-Agile transformation. He serves as Principal at Adaptive Intelligence, LLC, leading PMO, Lean-Agile, and organizational change initiatives across industries including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, edtech, finance, and aerospace and defense. His global transformation work spans 17 countries across four continents. Sameer holds a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay and NC State, an MBA from UNC–Chapel Hill, and certifications including PMP, SPC, DASSM, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, NTL OD Practitioner, and ITIL.

Lisa Sun is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in product and project management, currently serving as Director of Technology Product Delivery at Optum, one of the largest healthcare services companies in the U.S. PMP® certified since 2003, she has held progressive leadership roles and is a former board member of the PMI Dallas Chapter, where she has volunteered for eight years. A Distinguished Toastmaster, Lisa has helped more than 180 students build public speaking skills through Gavel Clubs she founded and has coached a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team to the 2024 World Championship, integrating project management principles into youth development.

Isaac Ma is a junior at Jesuit Dallas, where he excels academically and co-founded the Asian Student Union and DECA Chapter. He also serves on the PMI Dallas Student Advisory Board. Outside of school, Isaac is a key contributor to his FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team, dedicating over 200 hours to mentoring teams and expanding robotics access for underprivileged communities across DFW. Applying project management principles to robot design and outreach, his team advanced to the 2024 FIRST World Championship, earning 2nd Place Think Award and Robot Game Semifinalist honors. Isaac plans to pursue engineering psychology in college.

Rose James is an accomplished Strategy and Transformation Leader dedicated to helping organizations achieve greater performance, agility, and efficiency. A recognized thought leader and influencer, she shares her expertise through publications and as a keynote speaker at universities, global conferences, and multi-billion-dollar companies. Known for her dynamic style and ability to clearly communicate complex ideas, Rose inspires professionals to lead change with confidence. Following her recent presentation at the PMI Global Summit Series Europe, she continues to challenge and empower audiences worldwide through insights on leadership, transformation, and the power of project management.

Damian Kulash is the frontman and creative force behind OK Go, the genre‑defying band known for blending music, art, engineering, and storytelling into globally celebrated work. A lifelong advocate for curiosity and creative discovery, Kulash has helped lead OK Go through nearly three decades of boundary‑pushing collaboration — earning billions of streams, three VMAs, a GRAMMY, and an unparalleled creative legacy that includes award‑winning music videos, collaborations with scientists and educators, and work featured in the permanent collection of MoMA. Beyond accolades, Kulash measures success by wonder, experimentation, and the freedom to pursue ideas simply because they are inspiring — a philosophy that continues to shape OK Go’s music, visuals, and cultural impact.