The Future of AI: Navigating Agentic Systems, Data Monetization & Emerging Disruption

Based in New York, Freek is the Global Citizen Development & AI Director at Arcadis, a global leader in sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy. With over 36,000 professionals across 70+ countries, Arcadis tackles critical challenges like climate change, urbanization, and digital transformation.

As a thought leader in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, Freek plays a pivotal role in advancing Arcadis’s vision to reshape the future of work through emerging technologies. With over 13 years of experience, he leads the integration of low-code platforms, AI and digital tools, like ArcadisGPT, driving operational transformation across the company. He is also spearheading an ambitious corporate objective to upskill 2,000 Arcadis citizen developers by 2026, ensuring they are more digitally and AI literate and making them a more productive and future-ready workforce while minimizing risk for the company.

Freek holds an MBA focused on citizen development, low code and AI with his research featured in All Hands on Tech, a book by Thomas Davenport and Ian Barkin.

Lalitha co-founded and served as CEO of OpenTeams Global, an organization that helps clients and business partners integrate open-source data and AI methodologies to improve their business results. Prior to that, she served as the director of IBM Digital Commerce, SaaS and Data Platforms. Lalitha focuses on business transformation, global market expansion and artificial intelligence neural networks.

As Stantec’s artificial intelligence and digital lead, Lalitha shapes and leads AI and digital maturity. She partners with Stantec's internal teams to lead AI strategy, infuse AI into the company's technology, and standardize its digital platform and operating model across the entire business.

Lalitha holds a doctorate in neuro-symbolic artificial intelligence and several invention patents. She is a regular speaker at industry conferences, serves on the board of directors for many startups, and is a strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in technology.

When she isn’t fostering collaboration within the global tech community or facilitating sustainable funding, recognition and inclusivity, Lalitha puts her energy toward motivating and supporting women and girls to pursue and thrive in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). She serves on the Champions Board for the Texas Girls Collaborative Project, a statewide network of advocates and educators.

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.

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 role as CEO of BST Global, Javier serves on the ACEC Research Institute 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.

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.