Speakers
Tim Wark
Global AI Lead
As AECOM's Global AI Lead, Tim is responsible for leading the firm’s enterprise AI strategy, which is a key enabler for both transforming the organization’s operating model and driving forward how it delivers value to clients now and into the future.
Prior to this, Tim was the Regional Digital Director for AECOM Australia New Zealand and part of the regional executive team. He has more than 25 years of experience in technology research, development and commercialization in both the public and private sectors, focusing on a range of domains such as environment, transportation and health.
Tim holds a PhD in Computer Science from Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.
Tim Wark
Global AI Lead
AECOM
Podcasts
The AI Disruption
With AECOM’s Tim Wark
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Tembi Hommes
Global Chief Data Officer
Tembi is a seasoned data and analytics leader and Global Chief Data Officer at Arup. She is responsible for defining and executing Arup’s data strategy to enable the company’s mission of shaping a better and more sustainable world.
Prior to joining Arup, Tembi led the Data Platform, Governance and Operations team at Okta. She is also the former Head of Enterprise Data at Peloton.
Tembi began her career at PwC, supported Fortune 500 clients in executing data strategies as a data and analytics advisor at CrossCountry Consulting, and has dabbled in a few entrepreneurial ventures.
She holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Tembi Hommes
Global Chief Data Officer
Arup
Podcasts
Sustainability & AI
With Arup’s Tembi Hommes
Watch Now
Darren Martin
Chief Digital Officer
Darren is an industry-recognized thought leader on the power of connecting people, data and technology to deliver stronger outcomes and help us engineer a better future for our planet and its people. He thrives on shaping and delivering digital transformation that enables large, complex organizations to leverage innovative new technologies and deliver extraordinary results.
As Chief Digital Officer, Darren leads the global digital strategy for AtkinsRéalis, a world-leading design engineering and project management company that works to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Darren is responsible for developing and scaling the organization’s digital capabilities to help deliver solutions that support strong client outcomes, maximize efficiency and commercial performance, and reduce our environmental impact.
Darren joined AtkinsRéalis from McKinsey & Company, where he was the global CTO for McKinsey’s Operations Practice and Capital Excellence Program, leading innovation on generative AI, software development and data science. He has also served as global CTO at two other energy and built environment consultancies. In these roles, Darren helped deliver digital transformation policies that added $100M to the bottom line and developed practical expertise in everything from identifying client challenges to determining how large organizations can best integrate powerful AI and data analytics into their products and services.
Darren began his career in a startup as a cofounding developer before rising through the ranks to hold a global leadership position at one the world’s largest digital technology organizations.
Darren Martin
Chief Digital Officer
AtkinsRéalis
Podcasts
Vulnerability in the Eye of AI
With AtkinsRéalis’ Darren Martin
Watch Now
Eileen M. Canady
Chief Marketing Officer
Eileen is BST Global’s Chief Marketing Officer, and a member of the BST Global Executive Management team. In her role, Eileen is responsible for developing data-driven marketing campaigns to expand brand awareness, generate qualified leads and propel sales growth. She is also committed to leading a high-performing Marketing team with the skills and expertise to thrive in the fast-paced AEC software landscape.
Eileen has more than 25 years of B2B marketing and sales leadership experience. Eileen is responsible for managing the company’s marketing efforts, including product marketing, event management, market research, competitive analysis, customer personas, full-campaign strategies, go-to-market planning, brand management, demand and lead generation, content and creative development, public and analyst relations, association relationships, internal and external communications, and digital presence. Eileen’s strategic initiatives drive sales, resulting in brand awareness, consideration and conversion.
Before BST Global, Eileen served as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Sykes Enterprises, Inc., where she overhauled the company’s brand and laid out a strategic roadmap dedicated to brand awareness, retention and new client acquisition. Eileen also served as the Vice President of Strategic Development and Marketing at JHS Capital Advisors, where she played a key role in increasing the company’s brand presence and recognition as a leader in the industry, resulting in overall company growth.
A member of the Forbes Communication Council, Eileen also serves on the Advisory Council for the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa and on the Advisory Board for the University of South Florida Muma College of Business’ Digital Marketing Program. Eileen is also certified in Strategic and Conceptual Selling by Korn Ferry.
Eileen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Business and Technical Writing from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
Eileen M. Canady
Chief Marketing Officer
BST Global
Javier A. Baldor
Chief Executive Officer
Javier is Chief Executive Officer and a Principal Shareholder of BST Global. Javier leads a global team of professionals responsible for the market introduction of BST Global's business software products and cloud solutions. Javier is also instrumental in crafting and implementing the company’s business strategy, overall vision and mission with the BST Global leadership team. In addition to his principal role at BST Global, Javier serves on the ACEC Board of Directors.
Javier joined BST Global in 1989 and has served in various capacities during his tenure. In 1999, Javier was the primary catalyst in establishing a global vision for BST Global, and since that time, the company has flourished from its roots as a North American-centric business to a prosperous and vibrant global software organization. Today, with the steadfast support of fellow senior leadership and committed professionals globally, BST Global operates across an international network of offices and has clients leveraging BST Global’s solutions in 65 countries on six continents.
Javier holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
Javier A. Baldor
Chief Executive Officer
BST Global
Kevin Switala
Chief Technology Officer
Kevin serves as Chief Technology Officer for Gannett Fleming, the nearly 110-year-old architecture, engineering and construction firm. In this role, he provides strategic alignment of technology investments with business strategy leadership, and fosters technology innovation within the firm’s consulting business.
He has more than 26 years of experience with IT and geographic information systems, and was awarded the 2019 Philadelphia region’s CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Award for the Corporate Category.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental design and ornamental horticulture from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kevin Switala
Chief Technology Officer
Gannett Fleming
Podcasts
Connect to the Future
With Gannett Fleming’s Kevin Switala
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Kumar Parakala
President
Kumar is a business leader and technology entrepreneur who has spent more than two decades building and serving high-growth businesses across the technology and consulting industries. He is currently the President of GHD Digital, where he serves GHD’s 11,000 people and its clients.
Kumar was instrumental in leading the global technology advisory practice for KPMG, where he held executive leadership and managing partner roles from 2000–2015. He has also served as a trusted advisor and non-executive director to boards and CEOs for more than 500 board briefings. He is a respected thought leader whose work has been published in top media outlets such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal and Financial Times.
In his spare time, Kumar indulges his passion for jazz music, demonstrating his creative flair and unique approach to both life and leadership.
Kumar Parakala
President
GHD Digital
Podcasts
AI’s Power to Radically Transform
With GHD Digital’s Kumar Parakala
Watch Now
Justin Webster
Chief Technology Officer
Justin is the Chief Technology Officer at HDR, responsible for enterprise Information Technology strategy and operations. He has technology leadership experience across multiple industries including financial services, health and wellness, supply chain, ag-tech, transportation, telephony, insurance, and government systems.
Prior to joining HDR, Justin was Vice President of Innovation Strategy with LPL Financial, where he established a digital innovation lab and technology discovery exploration process to conceive and incubate product innovations. He also worked at TD Ameritrade, where he was Director of the Exploration Lab. He established an enterprise artificial intelligence program, was a key leader of an agile transformation, and has an extensive software development background.
Justin Webster
Chief Technology Officer
HDR
Podcasts
AI Efficiency & Scale
With HDR’s Justin Webster
Watch Now
Marty Williams
Chief Information Officer
Marty is a highly accomplished technology executive and the Chief Information Officer of HNTB Corporation. He is responsible for driving the company's technology strategy and digital innovation, as well as overseeing technical services including software development, information security, IT infrastructure and IT operations.
Prior to joining HNTB, Marty served as the CIO for a global experience management and data analytics firm where he led both product and technology teams. He also led enterprise product development and technology operations for a pioneering digital government firm, and previously held leadership roles in sales, sales operations, program management and software engineering. Marty has worked across multiple industries in the past two decades, and is known for his passion for leadership and using technology to transform business capabilities.
In addition to his impressive career accomplishments, Marty is a proud United States Marine veteran. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Tulane University, a Master's in Telecommunications and Computer Information Systems from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from Campbell University. He is a lifelong learner who is always seeking new knowledge and skills to stay at the forefront of his field.
Marty Williams
Chief Information Officer
HNTB Corporation
Podcasts
Level Up
With HNTB’s Marty Williams
Watch Now
Raj Arora
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of Jensen Hughes, Raj is responsible for guiding the global market leader’s rapid expansion; delivering on its commitment to client service excellence; and inspiring its 1,500+ engineers, consultants, analysts and strategists to develop and deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions that make our world safe, secure and resilient.
Throughout his two decades in the fire, security and risk reduction industry, Raj has established himself as an experienced engineer and a strategic business leader who is passionate about people and culture. Earlier in his career, Raj held leadership positions in various segments of the global fire and life safety industry as Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls’ $1B Fire Detection and Special Hazard Product division, and as General Manager of Tyco International’s Fire Detection Products group. At Tyco, Raj played a key role in driving transformative product and software innovation that spurred significant enterprise value.
Raj holds a Bachelor of Science degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a licensed Professional Engineer. Over the course of his career, he has earned awards ranging from “Top 40 Under 40” in an engineering publication to an “Early Career Award” from his alma mater, and performance awards for accountability, teamwork and technical acumen. He also serves as a board director for the National Fire Protection Association.
Raj Arora
Chief Executive Officer
Jenson Hughes
Podcasts
New Horizons
With Jensen Hughes’ Raj Arora
Watch Now
J Nick Otto
Chief Information Officer
J Nick serves as the technology leader for Kimley-Horn, focusing on Strategy & Leadership, Application Development & Support, Information Security, and IT Operations; along with building a Product Development engine. Nick also serves on the Board of Directors for the Triangle Technology Executives Council.
Prior to joining Kimley-Horn, he held senior leadership positions at SAS with responsibility for Global Hosting & Cloud Services, Information Security, and IT Audit & Compliance groups; Red Hat in both the IT Infrastructure and IT Enterprise Systems divisions; and Circuit City Stores overseeing IT Infrastructure, Data Centers, Networking and Store Technology groups.
Nick’s IT journey started in the grocery IT sector supporting UNIX systems, POS terminals and networks. Along the way, he worked at a tech startup, consulted for the Virginia Department of Transportation and assisted several non-profits in making technology decisions. Nick is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.
J Nick Otto
Chief Information Officer
Kimley-Horn
Podcasts
What Technology Brings
With Kimley-Horn’s J Nick Otto
Watch Now
Ricardo Lorenzo
Chief Technology Officer
As Chief Technology Officer at Parsons Corporation, Ricardo is responsible for the development and implementation of the organization’s overall technology strategy with the objective of promoting growth. He accomplishes this by employing a combination of internal research and development (R&D) and external technology resources, such as commercial technology partnerships, contract R&D, and university partnerships. The portfolio includes technologies ranging from digital modernization to integrated systems, and from cyber to artificial intelligence/machine learning, data analytics, advanced sensors, electronic warfare, smart mobility, environment remediation, and space technologies. He is also responsible for the offices of the Chief Information Officer, Chief Security Information Officer, S-WORX and the Parsons Fellows.
Ricardo joined Parsons in 2018 through the acquisition of Polaris Alpha, as Senior Vice President of S-WORX, a corporate-wide innovation and solutions organization. Prior to joining Parsons in 2018, he held a series of leadership roles within the defense and aerospace industry. He led the C4ISR and Intelligence business segment at Polaris Alpha, a high-tech solutions provider developing mission-critical systems for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community with specialized expertise in Space, Cyber and the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Ricardo was a member of the Polaris Alpha management team that collaborated with a private equity partner to increase the size of the company threefold within 24 months. Prior to Polaris Alpha, he served as EVP at EOIR Technologies, an advanced C4ISR solutions provider that became the platform for Polaris Alpha. Ricardo has also led numerous teams of software and systems engineers at Booz Allen Hamilton, focused on mission-critical defense and intelligence programs. He began his career as a software and systems engineer.
Ricardo holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Penn State University. He also proudly served as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he worked in Electronic Warfare, Communications and Civil Engineering before retiring honorably after 21 years of service.
Ricardo Lorenzo
Chief Technology Officer
Parsons Corporation
Podcasts
Be Unafraid
With Parsons’ Ricardo Lorenzo
Watch Now
Jonathan Nelson
Global Head of Digital
Jonathan joined Populous in 2022 as Global Head of Digital, overseeing digital transformation efforts internally and productization/partnership efforts externally. This senior role supports the global Holdings Board through the development, evaluation and evolution of a technological vision and strategy to develop and enhance all digital services and products.
While Jonathan is an architect by training, his career has spanned both architecture and construction as well as software development, manufacturing and academia. As an academic and researcher, Jonathan has been published extensively on the topics of prefabrication, generative design, digital fabrication and augmented reality.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Master of Construction Practice from Bond University in Robina, Australia.
Jonathan Nelson
Global Head of Digital
Populous
Podcasts
Next-Level Experiences
With Populous’ Jonathan Nelson
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Jason B. Miller
Head of Innovation
Jason is the Head of Innovation for Ramboll, a global architecture, engineering and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. With a team of more than 18,000 experts, Ramboll is known for creating sustainable solutions across Buildings, Transport, Energy, Environment & Health, Water, Management Consulting, and Architecture & Landscape.
Jason leads Ramboll’s efforts to identify, validate, deliver, and scale new services and products aimed at resolving clients’ complex challenges, and creating a sustainable future where both people and nature flourish. In 2023, he played a pivotal role in formulating Ramboll’s AI strategy. This work involved assessing AI trends affecting the AEC industry and creating a robust plan to capture the opportunities. Foundational enablers of the strategy include development of the workforce of the future, innovative commercial models, maximizing the value of historical data, AI education and the ethical use of AI, reflecting the firm’s longstanding values.
Jason has more than 15 years of experience developing analytical and generative AI systems. His expertise spans natural language processing models for mining historical, technical data sets; computer vision models for vegetation typing and delineation; and, most recently, the use of OpenAI APIs to improve the efficiency of myriad tasks.
Jason B. Miller
Head of Innovation
Ramboll
Podcasts
Providing AI Superpowers
With Ramboll’s Jason B. Miller
Watch Now
Shankar Kalyana
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
A strong believer in enabling business transformation through emerging digital technology, Shankar is an outcome-oriented and market-facing thought leader and digital architect. A former IBM fellow, an innovator and a problem-solver at heart, he’s been recognized with five outstanding technical achievement awards, the IBM Corporate Award, and two Best of IBM awards.
One example of his prize-winning work includes a scale method for end-to-end cloud-enabled transformation. He has tremendous expertise in large-scale digital transformations powered by cloud, data, AI and automation. At Stantec, Shankar oversees the commercialization of digital products and services, and the development of tools that drive internal efficiency. He also supports the ideation of digital products that will be incubated and brought to market.
Shankar holds a Master of Information Science degree from Pennsylvania State University.
Shankar Kalyana
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
Stantec
Podcasts
The Power of Augmented Intelligence
With Stantec’s Shankar Kalyana
Watch Now
Jason Kephart
Chief Technology Officer
Jason is the Chief Technology Officer at Terracon Consultants, Inc., where he leads a dedicated team of more than 170 IT professionals in delivering technology solutions that enable the effective execution of traditional AEC consulting services and generation of digital services revenue.
Named the winner of the "2021 Kansas City CIO of the Year Orbie Award for Large Corporate," Jason is a respected leader who has exemplified technical excellence, innovation, and corporate integrity during his nearly 20 years at Terracon. His focus and strategy as a technology leader integrates technology advancements and innovation with business processes and transformation to deliver differentiated employee and customer experiences.
Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids participate in their sports, and is an avid golfer.