TEDxIllinois Tech

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Alfie Payne

  Technical Director & Digital Transformation Consultant

  Alfie Payne is an Independent Technical Director with StracomHQ who consults with international brands on complex migrations, systems integrations and technical change programmes. He combines his technical background with his proven commercial experience to understand what needs to happen to make software work more effectively for processes throughout an organization for affective adoption. This follows time as a Managing Director at a technical development agency, and working as an eCommerce Director for household B2C retail brands.

• Amy Lee Segami

  Innovation Strategist, Mechanical Engineer & Creator of Painting On Water™

  Amy Lee Segami is a trusted advisor to executives, innovators, and business leaders navigating complex challenges. As president of Segami, Inc., she helps organizations drive transformational growth through a blend of science, strategy, and synergy. Trained as a mechanical engineer with an advanced degree from Illinois Tech, she is a life member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. She has worked on projects for NASA, Fermilab, Dow, and Meeting Professionals International. She also developed the award-winning Painting On Water™ process, with works featured in private collections, the Museum of New Mexico, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. BBC, NPR, and Crain’s Chicago Business showcased her unique application of art, science, and business. Her innovative leadership has earned multiple awards and recognitions.

• April Welch

  Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives | Director, Esports and Digital Arts Center

  April Welch is the Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Director of the Esports and Digital Arts Center at Illinois Institute of Technology. A passionate advocate for education, technology, and community empowerment, she leads initiatives that open doors for students and community members alike — from establishing Illinois Tech's thriving esports program to helping secure a $2 million federal grant for the Bronzeville Opportunity Engine. Welch has spoken at major events such as C2E2, IdeaCon, and the Canadian Games Study Association Conference, and co-hosts the Warrior GMR podcast. Her work has been featured on ABC 7 News, NPR, and WVON Chicago. With degrees in Business Administration, Fine Arts, Applied Professional Studies, and Technical Communication, she is now a Ph.D. candidate at Illinois Tech. Welch’s leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and building the next generation of tech leaders.

• Azzam Abu Hamdan

  Cybersecurity Engineer & Innovator | Career Development Mentor

  Azzam Abu Hamdan is a cybersecurity engineer who believes that the greatest innovations happen at the intersection of technology and human connection. With experience at industry leaders such as Amazon and Tesla, Azzam combines deep technical expertise with a passion for helping others unlock career opportunities through relationship-building and strategic networking. In his TEDx talk, he shares how social engineering — often seen as a hacking technique — can be reimagined as a force for good to transform lives and careers. Azzam holds a Master's degree in Cybersecurity and is dedicated to empowering the next generation of professionals to lead, innovate, and connect in a rapidly changing world.

• Cesar Almeida

  Creative Producer and Cultural Strategist

  Cesar Almeida is a creative producer and cultural strategist who leads global media and education projects that center justice, art, and community. Some examples of these projects include introducing urban youth to the outdoors through music and film, increasing diplomatic ties between nations through hip-hop programs, and giving philanthropic organizations a platform to highlight their investment into our collective humanity and environment. Rooted in Chicago’s vibrant creative scene, Cesar founded Creative Capitol, a global media arts and marketing agency that is growing to become a creative infrastructure where artists, partners, and causes meet to turn stories into movements.

• Don DeLoach

  Technology Executive, Author & Innovation Catalyst

  Don DeLoach is a distinguished technology executive, board member, and adjunct faculty member at Illinois Tech. He is deeply committed to the commercialization of technology and the advancement of emerging entrepreneurs as well as struggling companies within the cyber-physical domain. With over 30 years of experience as a CEO, author, and board member, Don has a proven track record of successfully leading or advising startups and facilitating strategic pivots for B2B technology firms, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and cyber-physical systems.

• Dr. Maurice Dawson Jr.

  Cybersecurity & AI Expert + Director, Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education

  Dr. Maurice Dawson Jr. is an Associate Professor of Information Technology and Management at Illinois Tech and Director of the Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education (C2SAFE). A Fulbright Scholar and globally recognized expert, his work spans cybersecurity, AI, and critical infrastructure protection. Dr. Dawson has advised governments worldwide and published extensively in top journals. His research focuses on AI-driven intrusion detection, counterterrorism, and digital transformation in developing nations. He promotes cybersecurity education through experiential learning, OSINT tools, and international collaboration. Holding doctorates from London Metropolitan University and Colorado Technical University, he also leads global study abroad programs and mentors underrepresented students in tech, equipping future leaders with the skills to tackle global security challenges.

• Dr. Thaer Ahmad

  Emergency Medicine Physician & Global Health Humanitarian

  Dr. Thaer Ahmad is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and global health humanitarian based in Chicago. He serves in academic medicine as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois and as an adjunct assistant clinical professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He is a board member of the Palestinian American Medical Association and a former board member of MedGlobal. Dr. Ahmad has led healthcare capacity-building and emergency response initiatives across Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya, Greece, Lebanon, and Palestine.

• Jasleen Bedi

  Web Developer & Community Empowerment Advocate

  Jasleen Bedi is a senior software engineer specializing in modern web development and scalable digital experiences. Originally from India, she moved to the United States to pursue her dream of building impactful technology and has since built a career spanning enterprise applications, user-centered design, and engineering leadership. She holds a master’s degree in computer science with a specialization in web development and databases from Bradley University. Beyond her technical work, Jasleen is a passionate mentor and community advocate committed to empowering others, giving back, and creating opportunities through technology.

• Jennifer deWinter

  Dean & Expert in Japanese Media and Game Development

  Jennifer deWinter is Dean of Lewis College of Science and Letters at Illinois Institute of Technology. She is an expert in Japanese media and production, often going to Japan to work on projects and research in the areas of video games, anime, and built environments. Prior to joining Illinois Tech in 2022, she was the director of the Interactive Media and Game Development Program at WPI, where she took students to Japan to do game and media production, urban renewal projects, and cultural studies.

• Joshua Bandoch

  Public Policy Advocate and Persuasive Communications Strategist

  Persuasion expert Joshua Bandoch is the author of How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion. He has spent over a decade uncovering the secrets of persuasion, mining psychology, neuroscience, economics, public policy, and history for cutting-edge techniques that work. He’s put them to use in hundreds of speeches written for senior government officials delivered to just about any audience. Bandoch uses and refines these persuasion techniques on a daily basis as a think tank leader, where he crafts and communicates policies on issues like poverty, social mobility, and education to politically diverse audiences, including elected officials, local and national media, and grassroots activists.

• Michael Roytman

  Cybersecurity Data Scientist & Tech Entrepreneur

  Michael Roytman is the Co-Founder and CTO of Empirical Security. Prior to that he was a Distinguished Engineer, AI/ML at Cisco and Chief Data Scientist at Kenna Security. Michael has spoken at RSA, BlackHat, the World Economic Forum, BSides, Metricon, Infosec Europe and SIRAcon. Michael is the author of Modern Vulnerability Management: Predictive Cybersecurity. His work focuses on cybersecurity data science and Bayesian algorithms, and he served on the boards for Society of Information Risk Analysts, Cryptomove, Forbes, and Social Capital. He was the cofounder and executive chair of Dharma Platform (acquired, BAO Systems), for which he landed on the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 list. He cofounded Sputnik Coffee Company, Timeout's 2021 best coffee shop in Chicago. Michael holds an M.S. in Operations Research from Georgia Tech and serves on the Forbes Technology Council.

• Mohammad Anas Hussain

  Philosopher-Technologist | Decentralized Systems Architect

  Anas Hussain is a builder and thinker at the intersection of philosophy, technology, and the pursuit of freedom. With a track record of building everything from cryptocurrencies to AI-powered platforms, he leads with vision, precision, and purpose. In his TEDx talk, Anas explores how Hegelian dialectics echo through the world of decentralized finance—and why embracing the tension between opposing forces may be the key to designing the future. Guided by his personal motto, “Chase influence, not fame,” Anas believes real impact is built in the shadows long before it’s seen in the spotlight.

• Rich Klein

  Dean, Stuart School of Business | Expert in Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success

  Rich Klein is the Dean of the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he leads efforts to innovate business education and foster student success. Previously, he served as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and held leadership and faculty positions at Florida International University and Clemson University. His research explores inter-organizational information systems, connecting academia and real-world business challenges. Klein holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Georgia State University, along with degrees in economics and technology management. He is a graduate of Harvard’s education leadership programs and a U.S. Army aviation veteran. With over a decade of industry experience and service on major executive boards, Dean Klein brings a unique perspective on leadership, technology, and education transformation.

• Suha Imran Moten

  Medical Student, Researcher & Advocate for Inclusive Medicine

  Suha Imran Moten is a second-year medical student, researcher, and advocate for a more inclusive, human-centered future in medicine. She holds a master’s in biomedical sciences from Midwestern University and has authored over seven peer-reviewed publications. Suha has coached regionally recognized hijabi sports teams, been featured on ABC7 News for her leadership, and is currently writing her first book. As the eldest daughter of South Asian immigrants, she’s navigated cultural challenges and academic setbacks with resilience and purpose. Through mentorship, research, and advocacy, Suha empowers young women to lead, speak up, and claim their space in medicine and beyond.