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Share this event bar1 bar2 bar3 Menu * Home * Agenda * Speakers * Sponsors * Virtual Day Experience * Event Information * In-Person Experience * Contact Us * Register - Delegate pass * Register - Press pass AGENDA View the latest 2-day conference programme for Metaverse Summit 2022. Click on a day below to view > * Wednesday October 26th (San Jose, PDT) * Thursday October 27th (Virtual, in the metaverse, EDT) * Full Day * Full Day Full Day 8:25 am -8:30 am PST WELCOME REMARKS * View Profile ANNE MCELVOY Executive editor for strategy, The Economist bar1 bar2 ANNE MCELVOY Executive editor for strategy, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 08:25 am -8:30 am Welcome remarks Anne McElvoy is a former foreign correspondent and columnist. She began her career on the Times, covering east Germany, German unification, the Balkans and Russia before becoming Deputy Editor of the Spectator and Political Columnist of the Daily Telegraph. Most recently she was Executive Editor of the London Evening Standard and the newspaper’s political columnist. She joined The Economist in January 2011. Ms. McElvoy also presents the BBC arts and ideas programme “Night Waves” and is a regular panellist on the BBC Radio 4 “Moral Maze” and BBC2 “Review Show”. She also makes political documentaries. 8:30 am -8:45 am PST HOW DO WE EMPOWER DEVELOPERS, USERS AND INVESTORS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE METAVERSE? Much of the still nascent conversation about the metaverse has focused on what it will look and feel like, and how it will reshape the way we interact with the online world. But how do we create the conditions for the investment, innovation and user adoption that will make the metaverse a reality? * View Profile BERTRAND PEREZ Chief executive, Web3 Foundation bar1 bar2 BERTRAND PEREZ Chief executive, Web3 Foundation October 26th 2022 * 08:30 am -8:45 am How do we empower developers, users and investors to get involved in the metaverse? * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers Bertrand PEREZ is the chief executive of the Web3 Foundation and has 30 years of engineering and technical management experience in payments and telecoms. Bertrand has led geographically dispersed engineering and operations teams of all sizes up to 300-plus staff within large multi-national organizations as well as smaller teams within early stage start-ups. In his last tenure, he was COO at the Diem Association where he initiated the Diem stablecoin project. Prior to his time at Diem, aka Facebook’s Libra project, Bertrand’s previous roles included executive and senior technical management positions leading engineering teams at Paypal and Ericsson, as well as mobile-media start-ups such as Zong and Index Multimedia. Bertrand holds a Masters in computer science. 8:45 am -9:00 am PST METAVERSE METAMORPHOSIS: THE MULTI-PHASED JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION FROM TODAY'S INTERNET WALLED-GARDENS TO THE INTEROPERABLE 3D OPEN-WORLDS WE DESERVE Debunking the common myths around the Metaverse and sharing the path forward from today’s virtual walled-gardens to tomorrow’s global open interoperable 3D worlds. * View Profile ALVIN WANG GRAYLIN President, HTC China bar1 bar2 ALVIN WANG GRAYLIN President, HTC China October 26th 2022 * 08:45 am -9:00 am Metaverse metamorphosis: the multi-phased journey of transformation from today's internet walled-gardens to the interoperable 3D open-worlds we deserve Alvin Wang Graylin is the president at HTC China, leading all aspects of Vive/VR and Smartphone businesses. He is also currently vice-chairman of the Industry of Virtual Reality Alliance with 300+ company members, president of the $18B Virtual Reality Venture Capital Alliance and oversees the Vive X VR Accelerators in Beijing, Shenzhen and Tel Aviv. Under his leadership, HTC has been voted as the top VR company in China at the World VR Industry Conference for three of the last four years, and Graylin has been recognized as the most influential person in XR in China the last 5 years. Graylin has over two dozen years of business management experience in the tech industry, including 20 years in Greater China. Prior to HTC, he was a serial entrepreneur, having founded four venture-backed startups in the mobile and internet spaces, covering mobile social, AD tech, search, big data and digital media. Additionally, GRAYLIN has held $100+ million P&L roles at major corporations such as Intel, Trend Micro and WatchGuard Technologies. Graylin was born in China and educated in the US. He received his master’s in computer science and MBA from Sloan School of Management at MIT. He graduated top of his department with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from University of Washington, where he had specialised in VR and AI over two decades ago. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. 9:00 am -9:20 am PST FIRESIDE CHAT: SUPPORTING COMMUNITY AND CULTURE TO GUIDE METAVERSE GROWTH Since the metaverse entered the cultural consciousness, it hasn’t loosened its grip on marketers’ minds, fueling FOMO and building urgency to invest in the fast-growing space. While forays in the metaverse will indeed shape brand engagement in a new era of virtualization, what types of talent and partners should the C suite seek out? What are the skills that will become table stakes for success in the metaverse? Sir Martin Sorrell, Chairman of S4 Capital, will lead a discussion on the macro outlook for the Metaverse, from 5G and the machinery of the Metaverse to customer engagement, from retail to entertainment with leaders that are building the future. * View Profile SIR MARTIN SORRELL Executive chairman, S4 Capital & senior monk, Media.Monks bar1 bar2 SIR MARTIN SORRELL Executive chairman, S4 Capital & senior monk, Media.Monks October 26th 2022 * 09:00 am -9:20 am Fireside chat: supporting community and culture to guide metaverse growth Sir Martin Sorrell is founder and executive chairman of S4 Capital plc, a new age/ new era, purely digital advertising and marketing services business for global, multinational and millennial-driven influencer brands. S4 Capital plc merged with MediaMonks, its content practice, in July 2018 and MightyHive, its data and digital media practice, in December 2018. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange under SFOR.L and has over 7,000 people in 33 countries, with a market capitalization in excess of $4.0 billion. Sir Martin was founder and chief executive of WPP for 33 years, building it from a £1 million “shell” company in 1985 into the world’s largest advertising and marketing services company. When Sir Martin left in April 2018, WPP had a market capitalisation of over £16 billion, revenues of over £15 billion, profits of approximately £2 billion and over 200,000 people in 113 countries. Prior to that, Sir Martin was Group Financial Director of Saatchi & Saatchi plc and worked for James Gulliver, Mark McCormack and Glendinning Associates before that. Sir Martin supports a number of leading business schools and universities, including his alma maters, Harvard Business School, where he received the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award and Cambridge University, where he is an Honorary Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He was ranked as the second-best CEO in the world by the Harvard Business Review in 2017 and was nominated as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. Sir Martin also supports a broad range of charities, including his family foundation. * View Profile JOANNA POPPER Chief metaverse officer, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) bar1 bar2 JOANNA POPPER Chief metaverse officer, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) October 26th 2022 * 09:00 am -9:20 am Fireside chat: supporting community and culture to guide metaverse growth Joanna Popper is the chief metaverse officer at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in Los Angeles, Popper leads metaverse initiatives for the agency and its clients. Popper joined CAA in 2022 from HP, where she led its XR initiatives for Go-To-Market, overseeing the launch of award-winning technology, such as the HP Reverb G2 VR headset (winner of Red Dot Design Award, CES Innovation Award, IF Design Award) and HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition (winner of VR Hardware of the Year, Entertainment Technology Lumiere Award, Red Dot Best of the Best, CES Innovation Award, IF Design Award). Previously, she was executive vice-president of media & marketing at Singularity University, a NASA-based, Google-backed organization founded by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis to train leaders on the future of technology including blockchain, VR/AR, artificial intelligence, robotics and digital biology. She was also the Vice President of Marketing at NBCUniversal, where she worked across properties, including television, film, digital, and parks, and launched hits in primetime, music award shows, sports, news, daytime, and more for Telemundo. She started her career as an investment banker in New York and Brazil and then a consultant at McKinsey & Company. She was selected as “50 Women Can Change the World in Media and Entertainment,” ”25 Pioneers in the Metaverse,” “Top 50 Original Thinkers in VR,” “Top Women in Media: Game Changers,” “Top Women in Media: Industry Leaders,” “Digital It List,” and “101 Women Leading the VR Industry.” She served as executive producer on BREONNA’S GARDEN, FINDING PANDORA X, and FIGHT BACK,the award-winning virtual reality content, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and SXSW. Popper graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree, and The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA. * View Profile JEANNIE WEAVER Vice president retail marketing, AT&T bar1 bar2 JEANNIE WEAVER Vice president retail marketing, AT&T October 26th 2022 * 09:00 am -9:20 am Fireside chat: supporting community and culture to guide metaverse growth Jeannie Weaver leads the retail marketing and experiences organization within AT&T with a mission to drive meaningful and relevant experiences for customers that celebrates and inspires them, connects to culture, brings the brand to life and supports our AT&T priorities and sales experience. The Retail Marketing arm leads all efforts of strategic creative concepting, retail merchandising, and innovative engagements for over 5,400 AT&T retail locations across the United States. The Special Experiences team develops innovative engagements both inside and outside of retail as well as creates and delivers original, digital-first, socially relevant platforms that reach multi-cultural segments including millennials, Gen Z, LGBTQ+ and black audiences. Jeannie’s career began within the telecom industry in 1995, serving as a call center representative. She was promoted throughout her time within that organization to Executive Director, leading an organization of over 500 employees, encompassing national responsibility. She has held numerous leadership roles since, spanning from Senior Director at Clearwire, Assistant Vice President of Small & Medium Business, Head of Sponsorships and Grassroots Marketing for Cricket Wireless, Assistant Vice President for Hello Lab and Win Local to her current role of Vice President of Retail Marketing & Experiences. Her experience spans from roles within new business start-up, P&L management, market and product launches, new business development, consumer & business sales and service, entertainment content development, social media, advertising and segment marketing. She’s enthusiastic about championing her company’s priorities and customer solutions, and has been afforded the opportunity to represent AT&T, Clearwire, Aio Wireless, and Cricket Wireless as a TV, radio and print ambassador. Jeannie has held several board positions including the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and Cradle Associates; she is active within her professional and personal communities focusing on challenges that face women in leadership and building a family through adoption. Through her creative leadership she has received many industry awards; among them multiple Clio Awards, The Shorty Awards, Streamy Awards, Cynopsis Digital Media and Platinum AVA Digital Awards, and received a personal Stevies Award. She is an Executive Producer of LOVELOUD, Super Saturday Night with JLo, Super Saturday Night with the Foo Fighters, Hello Sunshine and Producer for several other television shows featured on AT&T’s video platforms and in social media. Jeannie Weaver has 2 adopted children and resides in sunny Redondo Beach, California. In her free time you can find her paddle boarding on the Pacific Ocean. 9:20 am -9:55 am PST PANEL DISCUSSION: ARE WE WITNESSING THE GALES OF CREATIVE DESTRUCTION AT WORK? WHAT DOES THE METAVERSE MEAN FOR THE WAY WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND PLAY? Sponsored by Meta: Mapping the intersection between web3, NFTs and the metaverse and creating roadmaps to success: what can you do today, what should you think about doing tomorrow and what will digital commerce look like in ten years? * View Profile ALAN SMITHSON Co-founder, MetaVRse bar1 bar2 ALAN SMITHSON Co-founder, MetaVRse October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? Alan Smithson’s purpose in life is to inspire and educate people to think and act in a socially, economically and environmentally responsible way. Alan is a co-founder of MetaVRse, a low-code platform that makes it easy to create & share interactive 3D experiences instantly on the web, featured in Forbes. TheMall, a 100m sf virtual retail and entertainment destination built on the MetaVRse Engine. Your Director AI, Automatic Face Tracking Video Switcher. Named one of the most prominent Digital Futurists to watch out for in 2022, Alan is a proud Father, Business Leader, TEDx Speaker, and Podcast Host. He co-invented the World’s first touchscreen DJ system, Emulator — featured on Dragons’ Den, G4TV, and WIRED and winning DJ Mag’s Innovative Product of the Year in 2011. His 10-year-old daughter, Abi, invented sandals that leave a heart-shaped tan line on your feet called Love Sandal. Abi has been featured in Inc. and won Top 20 Under 20 at only 10 years old. Not to be outdone, his wife and co-founder, Julie, also runs XR Women, the world’s largest xr industry meetup for women. Alan is also an independent global advisor on the Metaverse for SXSW, Fortune 500 Companies and UHNW Family Offices, recently featured at Ritossa Summit, Riyadh. * View Profile KRISTA KIM Founder and chief creative officer, 0.xyz bar1 bar2 KRISTA KIM Founder and chief creative officer, 0.xyz October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? Krista Kim is a leading Metaverse artist, philosopher, co-founder of 0.xyz, and founder of Techism (2014), whose work explores the concept of digital consciousness. Her thought leadership had led her to create Metaverse hub + lab , 0.xyz, with Emmy-winning VR immersive director Peter Martin of Valis Studio. In 2020, Kim explored the creative potential to utilize screens as digital instruments of well-being by creating ‘Mars House’: a completely virtual environment using her digital zen philosophy as the first “Metaverse home” for sale as an NFT in history. The piece received global acclaim and in March 2021 was the highest-grossing sale on an NFT on SuperRare. Krista’s “Continuum” installation was featured in Times Square every midnight in Feb 2021, and has been acquired in LACMA’s permanent collection. She wrote a Metaverse essay for New York Times, and was chosen by Louis Vuitton as a #Louis200 visionary; Krista is contributing Metaverse Editor for Singapore Vogue; Top 30 Most Influential People of the Metaverse by Read and Write Magazine; Architectural Digest AD100, NFTy50 by Fortune Magazine. Kim made an iconic collaboration with Lanvin in 2018. In 2021, Kim collaborated with Lamborghini and Steve Aoki for their historic first physical/digital NFT auctioned at Sotheby’s, and she created the first Utah Jazz NBA Metaverse NFT project in history. Her work is currently exhibited at Palazzo Strozzi Museum (Florence, Italy) and Fotografiska Museum (Stockholm, Sweden). * View Profile PHILIP ROSEDALE Creator of Second Life and founder, High Fidelity bar1 bar2 PHILIP ROSEDALE Creator of Second Life and founder, High Fidelity October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? Philip Rosedale is the founder of Linden Lab, parent company of Second Life, an open-ended, Internet-connected virtual world and pioneering metaverse. Following Second Life, he worked on several projects related to distributed work and computing. Excited by innovations in these areas and the proliferation of new VR-enabling devices, he re-entered the virtual worlds space in 2013, co-founding High Fidelity, a company devoted to exploring the future of next-generation shared virtual reality. Philip rejoined Second Life in 2022, as Strategic Advisor, focused on helping to shape and build a better metaverse. Prior to Linden Lab, Philip created an innovative Internet video conferencing product (“FreeVue”), which was later acquired by RealNetworks, where he went on to become vice president and CTO. * View Profile NATALIA MODENOVA Founder and chief operating officer, DRESSX bar1 bar2 NATALIA MODENOVA Founder and chief operating officer, DRESSX October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? Natalia Modenova is in the list of Highsnobiety for TOP13 experts weigh in on Fashion NFT, 50 disruptors of the USA by Newsweek, Top 50 people who shaped fashion in 2021 by Glossy, and in Threedium TOP50 Voices driving the conversation in AR, VR and 3D and featured in Forbes USA, Financial Times, Vogue Business, WWD, Business of Fashion, Dazed and other media. Natalia has more than 10 years of experience in the fashion industry, her main activities include founding a showroom More Dash in Paris and the international conference Fashion Tech Summit alongside her business partner Daria Shapovalova. Natalia was a curator of the Fashion Business course at Kyiv Fashion Institute, curator at the Creative Ukraine conference, organized by the Ministry of Culture in Ukraine, an expert at Google Woman Digital Academy, SXSW speaker. After 4 seasons as press-attaché at Mercedes-Benz Kyiv Fashion Days, Natalia became its COO. Later she co-founded More Dash showroom in Paris, initiating and curating showcases for promotion and sales of the designers’ collections internationally. In 2019 More Dash expanded to the US with its Fashion Experience Pop-Up Stores in Los Angeles. In 2020 Natalia (along with her co-founder) launched their first tech company DRESSX, which is disrupting the fashion industry and transforming it into digital, bridging with the metaverse, web3, AR and tech. * View Profile EDWARD BOWLES Global director of public policy , Meta Financial Technologies bar1 bar2 EDWARD BOWLES Global director of public policy , Meta Financial Technologies October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? MODERATED BY * View Profile JOANNA POPPER Chief metaverse officer, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) bar1 bar2 JOANNA POPPER Chief metaverse officer, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) October 26th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:55 am Panel discussion: Are we witnessing the gales of creative destruction at work? What does the metaverse mean for the way we live, learn, work and play? Joanna Popper is the chief metaverse officer at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in Los Angeles, Popper leads metaverse initiatives for the agency and its clients. Popper joined CAA in 2022 from HP, where she led its XR initiatives for Go-To-Market, overseeing the launch of award-winning technology, such as the HP Reverb G2 VR headset (winner of Red Dot Design Award, CES Innovation Award, IF Design Award) and HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition (winner of VR Hardware of the Year, Entertainment Technology Lumiere Award, Red Dot Best of the Best, CES Innovation Award, IF Design Award). Previously, she was executive vice-president of media & marketing at Singularity University, a NASA-based, Google-backed organization founded by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis to train leaders on the future of technology including blockchain, VR/AR, artificial intelligence, robotics and digital biology. She was also the Vice President of Marketing at NBCUniversal, where she worked across properties, including television, film, digital, and parks, and launched hits in primetime, music award shows, sports, news, daytime, and more for Telemundo. She started her career as an investment banker in New York and Brazil and then a consultant at McKinsey & Company. She was selected as “50 Women Can Change the World in Media and Entertainment,” ”25 Pioneers in the Metaverse,” “Top 50 Original Thinkers in VR,” “Top Women in Media: Game Changers,” “Top Women in Media: Industry Leaders,” “Digital It List,” and “101 Women Leading the VR Industry.” She served as executive producer on BREONNA’S GARDEN, FINDING PANDORA X, and FIGHT BACK,the award-winning virtual reality content, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and SXSW. Popper graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree, and The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA. 9:55 am -10:20 am PST FIRESIDE CHAT: HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE METAVERSE IS OPEN, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE? Sponsored by Meta: The metaverse is at a critical early stage in its development. There is nothing deterministic in the way technology impacts society. People will use it as they see fit – and people will misuse it as well. Just as we have seen how problems in our physical society have manifested on the internet, they will reoccur in any system or platform regardless of what it is or who builds it. Who will set the rules and standards for the metaverse? Whose interests should those rules seek to protect? Join us for a discussion of the system of governance that can maximise the metaverse’s potential for good and minimise its potential harms. * View Profile SIR NICK CLEGG President of global affairs, Meta bar1 bar2 SIR NICK CLEGG President of global affairs, Meta October 26th 2022 * 09:55 am -10:20 am Fireside chat: how can we ensure the metaverse is open, safe and accessible? Sir Nick Clegg is president, global affairs at Meta. He joined the company, then called Facebook, in 2018 after almost two decades in British and European public life. Prior to being elected to the UK Parliament in 2005, he worked in the European Commission and served for five years as a member of the European Parliament. He became leader of the Liberal Democrat party in 2007 and served as deputy prime minister in the UK’s first coalition government since the war, from 2010 to 2015. He has written two best-selling books, Politics: Between the Extremes and How To Stop Brexit (And Make Britain Great Again). MODERATED BY * View Profile ANNE MCELVOY Executive editor for strategy, The Economist bar1 bar2 ANNE MCELVOY Executive editor for strategy, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 09:55 am -10:20 am Fireside chat: how can we ensure the metaverse is open, safe and accessible? Anne McElvoy is a former foreign correspondent and columnist. She began her career on the Times, covering east Germany, German unification, the Balkans and Russia before becoming Deputy Editor of the Spectator and Political Columnist of the Daily Telegraph. Most recently she was Executive Editor of the London Evening Standard and the newspaper’s political columnist. She joined The Economist in January 2011. Ms. McElvoy also presents the BBC arts and ideas programme “Night Waves” and is a regular panellist on the BBC Radio 4 “Moral Maze” and BBC2 “Review Show”. She also makes political documentaries. 10:20 am -11:35 am PST NETWORKING BREAK 11:35 am -12:00 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: FROM SCIENCE FICTION TO EVERYDAY LIFE: ASSEMBLING A METAVERSE THAT EXCEEDS USER EXPECTATIONS Renowned futurist and novelist Neal Stephenson will discuss the origins of the metaverse, sharing how it bloomed from an abstract idea to concrete roadmap for Web3, and outlining the opportunities that lay ahead for users and creators alike that aim to excite and optimise our future. * View Profile NEAL STEPHENSON Novelist and co-founder, Lamina1 bar1 bar2 NEAL STEPHENSON Novelist and co-founder, Lamina1 October 26th 2022 * 11:35 am -12:00 pm Fireside chat: from science fiction to everyday life: assembling a metaverse that exceeds user expectations Neal Stephenson is a best-selling author, futurist and visionary. Known for his works of speculative fiction, Stephenson has written on topics ranging from science fiction to technology to mathematics to philosophy over the last five decades. Stephenson grew up among scientists and engineers in Midwestern college towns. After studying physics and geography at Boston University, he penned his first novel The Big U, a campus satire, published in 1984. Four years later, he published Zodiac, a thriller about an environmentalist’s fight against corporate pollution. In another four years, Stephenson would achieve his breakout moment with Snow Crash, a cyberpunk novel most known for creating and coining the term “metaverse.” Now a critically acclaimed New York Times million-selling novel, Snow Crash a is a must-read for many of the greatest minds in business and technology today. His subsequent novel The Diamond Age went on to explore the possibilities of distributed payment systems in a worldwide media network, and won the Hugo and Locus Awards in 1996. In 1999, Stephenson went on to publish Cryptonomicon, a novel exploring everything from codebreaking and cryptography during the Second World War to what a modern “data haven” or unregulated data server might look like in the future. Cryptonomicon went on to win the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award and is frequently credited with inspiring a generation of cryptocurrency pioneers. Outside of writing, in the early 2000s, Neal became Employee #1 at Jeff Bezos’ space flight company Blue Origin, where he spent nearly seven years. While at Blue, he worked with a small team of physicists and engineers to evaluate alternate approaches to space travel and propulsion systems. Between 2003 and 2013, he went on to publish several additional novels as well as various shorter nonfiction pieces. His 2015 novel Seveneves appeared on the summer reading lists of Bill Gates and Barack Obama. In 2014, Stephenson was hired as Chief Futurist by Magic Leap, the world’s leading spatial computing company. There he ran a content R & D squad that developed new augmented reality experiences. In June 2021, Stephenson and several colleagues released New Found Land: The Long Haul, an Audible audio drama based on the world they developed at Magic Leap. After departing from Magic Leap in 2020, he received an Epic MegaGrant to fund a virtual production project based on ideas from The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., a 2017 novel he co-wrote with Nicole Galland. Thirty years after Snow Crash was first published, Neal partnered with crypto pioneer Peter Vessenes to finally bring his idea of the Metaverse to life. In June of 2022, he launched LAMINA1 , a Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built for the Open Metaverse, where he now serves as co-founder and chairman. MODERATED BY * View Profile LUDWIG SIEGELE European technology editor, The Economist bar1 bar2 LUDWIG SIEGELE European technology editor, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 11:35 am -12:00 pm Fireside chat: from science fiction to everyday life: assembling a metaverse that exceeds user expectations * 02:25 pm -2:45 pm Fireside chat: Beyond Bored Apes - what’s next for Yuga Labs’ Otherside? Ludwig Siegele joined The Economist as US technology correspondent in 1998. In 2003 he moved to Berlin as the newspaper’s Germany correspondent, before relocating to London in 2008 to cover the IT industry. In 2019 he returned to San Francisco as US technology editor, before moving again to Berlin as European business editor in early 2022. Mr Siegele started his journalistic career in 1990 as the Paris business correspondent of Die Zeit, a German weekly. In 1995 he moved from France to California to write about the internet for several German publications. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Cologne University and degrees in journalism from the Kölner Journalistenschule and the Centre de Formation des Journalists (CFJ) in Paris. He is also co-author of a book on SAP (“Matrix der Welt – SAP und der neue globale Kapitalismus”). From November 2018 to March 2019 Mr Siegele was Mercator Technology Fellow at the policy-planning unit of the German Foreign Office in Berlin. 12:00 pm -12:15 pm PST GOVERNANCE IN THE METAVERSE Sponsored by EY * View Profile EDWINA FITZMAURICE Global chief customer success officer, EY bar1 bar2 EDWINA FITZMAURICE Global chief customer success officer, EY October 26th 2022 * 12:00 pm -12:15 pm Governance in the Metaverse Edwina Fitzmaurice is EY’s global chief customer success officer, responsible for customer success and products for Client Technology globally. She leads a network of customer success technology hubs across EMEIA, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. She works with EY’s largest accounts on their technology strategies and implementing innovative solutions to help transform their business. Edwina is on the board of Women in Innovation and is the chair of the Governance Committee. She is a mentor with TechStars in Los Angeles and is an active member of the G100 and World50 business community of C-suite executives. In addition, she is the founder of the EY Educating Girls initiative, which has helped put 30 girls from an orphanage in India through high school and college. Edwina holds a Computer Science degree and Master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and has attended the Harvard Business School, the London Business School and INSEAD in Paris for executive education in strategic leadership. 12:15 pm -12:35 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: WHAT IS THE METAVERSE, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? IS IT ALL ABOUT NFTS, BORED APES AND CRYPTO BROS? If the answer is the metaverse, what was the question? What can the metaverse be, and how will it change identity and commerce? * View Profile MATTHEW BALL Managing partner, EpyllionCo bar1 bar2 MATTHEW BALL Managing partner, EpyllionCo October 26th 2022 * 12:15 pm -12:35 pm Fireside chat: What is the metaverse, and why does it matter? Is it all about NFTs, bored apes and crypto bros? Matthew Ball is the Managing Partner of EpyllionCo, which operates an early stage venture fund, as ell as a corporate and venture advisory arm. In addition, Ball is a Venture Partner at the famed gaming investment fund Makers Fund, Industry Advisor to storied private equity giant KKR, and a co-founder of Ball Metaverse Research Partners, which creates and maintains the index behind the world’s first Metaverse ETF, the Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, which can be found on the New York Stock Exchange (Ticker: $META). Ball is also an “Occasional Contributor” to The Economist, a producer behind Genvid Technologies’ Rival Peak, a more than three month-long interactive video event that was played by millions, and is an advisor to start-ups such as Dapper Labs, The Athletic, and more. From 2016–2018, Ball served as the global Head of Strategy for Amazon Studios, and prior to that was a Director at The Chernin Group’s Otter Media, a digital media investment company founded by long-time Newscorp COO and 20th Century Fox CEO Peter Chernin, and an Executive at Accenture Strategy. Ball holds bylines at New York Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg, and has been covered by those publications, as well as The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Washington Post, Vice, The Verge, CNN, CNBC, Financial Times, BBC, Globe and Mail, and others. MODERATED BY * View Profile TOM STANDAGE Deputy editor, The Economist bar1 bar2 TOM STANDAGE Deputy editor, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 12:15 pm -12:35 pm Fireside chat: What is the metaverse, and why does it matter? Is it all about NFTs, bored apes and crypto bros? Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of the yearly “The World in..” series. He is also responsible for the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products, including Espresso and Economist Films. He joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was subsequently appointed technology editor, business editor and digital editor. He is the author of six history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Wired, taking a particular interest in the internet’s cultural and historical significance. 12:35 pm -12:55 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: THE METAVERSE WON'T BE HERE UNTIL IT'S TRULY OPEN Metaverse pioneer Tony Parisi will dive deep on the industry-wide open standards and infrastructure needed to make the metaverse we want and deserve, a reality. Leaning on his guiding principles, the esteemed “Seven Rules of the Metaverse”, Parisi will illustrate his vision for the open metaverse and discuss what’s needed to get us there. * View Profile TONY PARISI Metaverse pioneer and chief product officer, Lamina1 bar1 bar2 TONY PARISI Metaverse pioneer and chief product officer, Lamina1 October 26th 2022 * 12:35 pm -12:55 pm Fireside chat: the metaverse won't be here until it's truly open Tony Parisi is a Metaverse and virtual reality pioneer, entrepreneur, investor, author and musician. He has co-created several international 3D graphics standards, including VRML, X3D, and glTF. Tony is the author of O’Reilly Media’s foundational books on 3D graphics and VR, Learning Virtual Reality (2015), Programming 3D Applications in HTML5 and WebGL (2014), and WebGL Up and Running (2012). One of the leading spokespeople for the immersive industry, Tony has given speeches in multiple countries about industry trends and innovation in augmented reality. He was named in Next Reality’s 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality in 2020. Tony is currently serving as chief product officer at Lamina1, a new layer 1 blockchain for the Metaverse. He is also an advisor and limited partner in early stage venture firms including ME Ventures, a future-focused investment fund providing opportunities for creators to grow and succeed. Previously, Tony was Head of XR Ads and E-Commerce at Unity, where he oversaw strategy and product for the company’s real-time 3D brand advertising and commerce solutions. Tony is also a composer and musician. He is currently finishing the cast recording for Judgment Day, a full-length original musical, and has several other music projects underway. MODERATED BY * View Profile AMY PECK Founder and chief executive, EndeavorXR bar1 bar2 AMY PECK Founder and chief executive, EndeavorXR October 26th 2022 * 12:35 pm -12:55 pm Fireside chat: the metaverse won't be here until it's truly open Amy Peck is the chief executive of EndeavorXR, a leading global XR strategy & consulting firm. She is one of the world’s foremost experts on immersive technology, the Metaverse, Web 3.0 and Blockchain. She is a recognized futurist and thought leader, and speaks globally on emerging technology and innovation. She advises Fortune 500 companies, government entities, digital media/production companies and tech startups on The Metaverse, XR strategy, tech-forward digital transformation and the Future of Work. Amy is an angel investor and a Venture Partner at the Capital Region XR Accelerator. She holds multiple Advisory Board roles, and is Co-chair of Prospera Women, a global organization supporting female-led startups. Amy works tirelessly to instill a positive vision of future tech and to inspire action on a global level. Her own personal mission is to see technology accessible to all – fundamentally improving every aspect of our lives and elevating the way we work, learn, communicate and play. 12:55 pm -1:10 pm PST A PRAGMATIST'S GUIDE TO THE METAVERSE: HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT? Sponsored by Cognizant: Much of the talk around the metaverse focuses on what it may become, or on how it is being built for the future, but businesses want to derive value from it today. With the landscape as complex as it is, how can leaders build strategies for the metaverse that deliver immediately, while still being agile enough to adapt to what the future may bring? * View Profile DUNCAN ROBERTS Senior manager, Cognizant Research bar1 bar2 DUNCAN ROBERTS Senior manager, Cognizant Research October 26th 2022 * 12:55 pm -1:10 pm A pragmatist's guide to the metaverse: how do you eat an elephant? October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Duncan Roberts is a senior manager in Cognizant Research. He joined the company in 2019 as a digital strategy and transformation consultant in industries ranging from satellite communications to educational assessment. He has advised clients on utilising technology to meet strategic objectives and discover the art of the possible through innovation. In 2015, he started developing applications for emerging Virtual and Augmented Reality hardware, working directly with large companies to create new experiences for their customers. He has also advised small startups on using Blockchain solutions for advertising within VR and AR. More recently, Duncan turned his passion for closing the gap between innovation and business opportunity into industry-leading research about the metaverse’s impacts on consumers and employees. Before Cognizant, Duncan worked for one of the largest publishing houses in Europe, playing a leading role in the digital publishing revolution, helping transform their operations end to end and launching new innovative products. He holds a Masters in Philosophy and Classics from the University of St. Andrews. 1:10 pm -2:10 pm PST LUNCH BREAK 1:10 pm -2:10 pm PST WORKING LUNCH ROUNDTABLE: WHAT STRATEGIC ECONOMIC AND BRAND VALUE CAN BE ACCRUED FROM OPERATING IN THE METAVERSE? Sponsored by EY What will the future of the internet look like? Immersive experiences combined with Web3 technology will revolutionize our online experience with the development of new channels for how we interact, shop, play, and work. Furthermore, the way companies create value and monetize will also change. While the metaverse is a journey whose destination is unknown, it’s critical to start asking the right questions to determine how to begin. What economic and brand value can be accrued from operating in the Metaverse? What are the business value drivers (e.g., cost saving, revenue streams) that can be achieved? What role should you play in the Metaverse value chain? What should your differentiated value proposition be? Why is now the right time for investment and development? To register your interest in attending this exclusive interactive event, please email stephanienoblet@economist.com * View Profile DAVID KADIO-MOROKRO Financial services innovation leader, Ernst & Young LLP bar1 bar2 DAVID KADIO-MOROKRO Financial services innovation leader, Ernst & Young LLP October 26th 2022 * 01:10 pm -2:10 pm Working lunch roundtable: What strategic economic and brand value can be accrued from operating in the metaverse? With nearly two decades of experience and as EY Consulting Services risk technology leader, David has helped EY clients implement risk, capital, and regulatory technology solutions. He has led large global engagements across the technology system development life cycle. He has advised many top-tier international and US banks on their regulatory and compliance efforts which included projects spanning Basel, CCAR, and Reg W programs, Data Quality and Governance, Credit Risk architecture, Risk Reporting, Credit Portfolio Management and implementation of third party risk management solutions. David’s experience in risk and capital management in the post-financial crisis regulatory transformation era, has made him an expert on the challenges the industry faces in innovating under the scrutiny of regulators and stakeholders with little room for error. David and his teams use this knowledge to help clients safely and profitably transform and pursue their growth and innovation agenda. David is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), and received his Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification in 2004. David holds an MBA in Finance and Investments from Baruch College and an engineering degree in Computer Science from the Hautes Etudes d’Ingénieur in Lille, France. 2:10 pm -2:25 pm PST THE INDUSTRIAL METAVERSE: A VIRTUAL WORLD TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS Sponsored by Siemens * View Profile BARBARA HUMPTON President and chief executive, Siemens USA bar1 bar2 BARBARA HUMPTON President and chief executive, Siemens USA October 26th 2022 * 02:10 pm -2:25 pm The industrial metaverse: a virtual world to solve real-world problems Barbara Humpton is President and chief executive of Siemens Corporation, where she guides the company’s strategy and engagement in serving the company’s largest market. Siemens USA employs approximately 40,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and generated $17 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2020. She views the true purpose of technology as expanding what’s humanly possible. She’s also passionate about diversity, STEM education and what she calls a worklife blend that honors her priorities both at Siemens and as a grandmother. Humpton is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She serves on the board of directors of the American Heart Association Greater Washington Region, Triumph Group, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), Economic Club of Washington, D.C., and the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband David. 2:10 pm -2:25 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: HOW ORGANISATIONS AND BRANDS CAN ENGAGE NEW AUDIENCES WITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS Sponsored by XLA: The metaverse lacks a unified vision or definition, conventionally seen as a social and gaming space accessible only with headsets. However, large brands must investigate new opportunities on multiple platforms. This session will explore how organisations and brands can engage massive new audiences through new and innovative business models and use cases. * View Profile ALEX BARKALOFF President and general manager, XLA bar1 bar2 ALEX BARKALOFF President and general manager, XLA October 26th 2022 * 02:10 pm -2:25 pm Fireside chat: how organisations and brands can engage new audiences with new and innovative business models Alex Barkaloff leads strategic marketing and innovation at XLA, a Web3 company that emerged from Xsolla, the world’s leading game payments platform provider. XLA utilizes the monetization power of Xsolla’s fintech platform to provide multi-industry solutions for audience engagement and metaverse participation with XLA’s revenue-sharing smart contracts. Prior to XLA, Alex has been multiplatform entertainment, transmedia and VR content producer for the past twenty-five years. He founded CONTINOUS, a digital ad agency that created awardwinning storytelling, social and VR media projects for Infinity China, Cadillac, Audi and Byton, a global EV startup. Also, he worked with leading talent including Tom Hanks, in creating Electric City, Sylvester Stallone, and Heroes creator Tim Kring in TV and digital projects. To this day, a short production became the most watched branded entertainment content on WeChat, with over 150 million views in the first three days after its drop. From 2008 to 2012, Alex was the Executive Producer and head of mobile/digital at Lionsgate. There he produced multiplatform, digital series, and breakout extensions to TV shows such as Man Men for Netflix, Hulu, Break and Machinima, along with social and mobile games such as the Dirty Dancing Social Game, which reached a record one million players in less than a month. Prior roles include Global Operations Manager for Oracle’s Developer Program (US, Ireland, Singapore), Managing Director of Lost Boys Interactive in Poland and Amsterdam and Country Manager in Poland for PSION (the world’s first PDA). He began his career at JPL/NASA as a software engineer for the Planetary Sciences division. * View Profile SEBASTIAN BRAUER Senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0, Crate & Barrel bar1 bar2 SEBASTIAN BRAUER Senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0, Crate & Barrel October 26th 2022 * 02:10 pm -2:25 pm Fireside chat: how organisations and brands can engage new audiences with new and innovative business models October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Sebastian Brauer is a creative innovator and retail leader at the intersection of art & design, culture, commerce and technology. Through his 12 year career in retail he has contributed to building brands, multi billion dollar global businesses and teams powered by authenticity, sustainability, social impact, design, collaboration and purpose driven leadership. Born in Quito, Ecuador, Sebastian studied art and industrial design in Milan and Philadelphia before working as a designer for Anthropologie. Inspired to connect more deeply with social activism and artisan production, he left his post to work independently as a fashion and home design consultant- conceptualizing, sourcing and executing product lines for retailers by connecting brands with responsible artisan makers to increase positive socio-economic impact across communities around the globe. He then went on to join the Williams Sonoma group as the Director of Visual Merchandising for West Elm, helping create visual identities across the brand’s channels as well as leading the brand’s ambitious store expansion and the design of their new flagship and corporate Headquarters in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Afterwards, he joined Jcrew as VP of Design, working on the brands 2018 relaunch, and repositioning. Today he is the senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0 for Crate and Barrel brands- the leading American home furnishings retailer based in Chicago Illinois. In this post he leads the brand’s design and strategic product vision as well as its creative direction & visual identity, overseeing a team of best in class in-house and global design talent. Under his expanded responsibility, he will guide Crate and Barrel’s strategic vision of the future metaverse and Web 3.0. 2:25 pm -2:40 pm PST IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY: DEFINING A NEW REALITY IN VETERANS’ HEALTHCARE Join us as the VA’s Immersive Technology lead talks candidly with a Veteran about how immersive technology is transforming the way healthcare is delivered and experienced. Post-traumatic stress disorder, pain management, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and a host of other conditions are all being addressed using medical extended reality (MXR) in Veteran care, and Veterans are asking for more. As the largest integrated healthcare system, the Department Veterans Affairs is uniquely positioned to define this new reality in healthcare. * View Profile ANNE LORD BAILEY Director, clinical tech innovation and immersive technology lead, Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning bar1 bar2 ANNE LORD BAILEY Director, clinical tech innovation and immersive technology lead, Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning October 26th 2022 * 02:25 pm -2:40 pm Immersive technology: defining a new reality in Veterans’ healthcare Anne Lord Bailey, PharmD, BCPS (Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist), is the director for clinical tech innovation and immersive technology lead for VHA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL). Dr. Bailey started her innovation journey as a resident at Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. Specializing in treating Hepatitis C, Dr. Bailey explored alternatives to typical care delivery and developed a passion for patient-centered healthcare innovation. Joining OHIL in 2020, Dr. Bailey has been at the forefront of VHA’s exploration of emerging technologies, particularly immersive technology. Co-leading VHA’s Extended Reality (XR) networks, Dr. Bailey has joined experts in government, academia, and industry, while supporting the expansion of the XR Network from one facility to almost 160 VA facilities and engaging with more than 1,000 VA employees. Recently, Dr. Bailey was awarded 2022 G2Xchange Change Agent Award and, along with other OHIL Immersive Tech team members, was a recipient of the 2022 Service to the Citizen Award. * View Profile EVAN DAVIS, CTRS United States Marine Veteran bar1 bar2 EVAN DAVIS, CTRS United States Marine Veteran October 26th 2022 * 02:25 pm -2:40 pm Immersive technology: defining a new reality in Veterans’ healthcare Evan is a United States Marine Veteran and graduated from Indiana University – Bloomington in 2019 with a degree in Recreational Therapy with a focus in Therapeutic Outdoor Programming and Outdoor Rec/Human Parks and Ecology and received his CTRS credentials in September of 2019. Evan is co-founder of the first Adaptive Sports program at IU which received the VA Adaptive Sports Grant. Evan has experience working with young adults in adaptive sports, various mental health conditions and individuals with intellectual disabilities. He additionally has expertise working with Veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings with a specific focus in outdoor and complementary methodologies. Evan began working at the VA in November 2019 and is working with inpatient Veterans while expanding programming for all Veterans. Evan leads the use of Virtual Reality through Recreational Therapy at the Indianapolis VA and has been implementing the use of VR since July of 2020. 2:25 pm -2:45 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: BEYOND BORED APES - WHAT’S NEXT FOR YUGA LABS’ OTHERSIDE? As one of the biggest brands in NFTs, Yuga Labs is known for having a strong community behind their many NFT collections (including Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, Meebits and more). Now, Yuga is in its next phase, building out a gaming metaverse through Otherside, aimed at interoperability and community. Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano joins The Economist’s Ludwig Siegele to talk about the future of Web3 gaming and what’s next for Otherside. * View Profile GREG SOLANO Co-founder, Yuga Labs bar1 bar2 GREG SOLANO Co-founder, Yuga Labs October 26th 2022 * 02:25 pm -2:45 pm Fireside chat: Beyond Bored Apes - what’s next for Yuga Labs’ Otherside? Greg Solano, aka Garga is the co-founder of Yuga Labs, the home of Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, Meebits, Otherside, and more. Prior to launching Yuga Labs, Greg worked in the publishing industry as an author and literary critic. In 2017, Greg shifted his sights to cryptocurrency, eventually co-founding Yuga Labs in 2021. Since founding, Yuga Labs has evolved from a NFT collectible company to a larger Web3 ecosystem by pushing the boundaries of ownership and identity. Yuga Labs has grown into a $4 billion company raising more than $450M in funding to date. MODERATED BY * View Profile LUDWIG SIEGELE European technology editor, The Economist bar1 bar2 LUDWIG SIEGELE European technology editor, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 11:35 am -12:00 pm Fireside chat: from science fiction to everyday life: assembling a metaverse that exceeds user expectations * 02:25 pm -2:45 pm Fireside chat: Beyond Bored Apes - what’s next for Yuga Labs’ Otherside? Ludwig Siegele joined The Economist as US technology correspondent in 1998. In 2003 he moved to Berlin as the newspaper’s Germany correspondent, before relocating to London in 2008 to cover the IT industry. In 2019 he returned to San Francisco as US technology editor, before moving again to Berlin as European business editor in early 2022. Mr Siegele started his journalistic career in 1990 as the Paris business correspondent of Die Zeit, a German weekly. In 1995 he moved from France to California to write about the internet for several German publications. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Cologne University and degrees in journalism from the Kölner Journalistenschule and the Centre de Formation des Journalists (CFJ) in Paris. He is also co-author of a book on SAP (“Matrix der Welt – SAP und der neue globale Kapitalismus”). From November 2018 to March 2019 Mr Siegele was Mercator Technology Fellow at the policy-planning unit of the German Foreign Office in Berlin. 2:40 pm -2:55 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: LEADERSHIP BASED UPON VALUE CYCLES VS HYPE CYCLES: QUANTIFYING THE METAVERSE IMPACT ON BUSINESS Sponsored by EY * View Profile JEFF WONG Global chief innovation officer, EY bar1 bar2 JEFF WONG Global chief innovation officer, EY October 26th 2022 * 02:40 pm -2:55 pm Fireside chat: Leadership based upon value cycles vs hype cycles: quantifying the metaverse impact on business Jeff Wong is the Global Chief Innovation Officer of EY, one of the largest professional services organizations in the world, which has almost 300,000 people serving clients in more than 150 countries. Jeff works across the entire organization to help identify, share and scale leading ideas. He leads the Global Innovation team, challenging everything from the way EY operates internally to how it provides services to its clients. Part of the Global Innovation team’s remit is to research and explore new technologies to transform the EY business. In this role, Jeff brings deep experience working in technology in Silicon Valley and across strategy, investing and building new ventures globally. Throughout his career, he has built new businesses across various concepts, including local commerce, B2B exchanges, services, mobile and big data at Boston Consulting Group, JAFCO America Ventures, J.P. Morgan Partners and eBay. Jeff sits on the Oxford Foundry Board of the University of Oxford and the Advisory Board of AI4All. He is a member on the Business Council of the Asia Society and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. In addition, he is a member of Council on Foreign Relations and a member of The World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He is also a fellow of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Jeff has an AB in Economics, master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management and an MBA from Stanford University. MODERATED BY * View Profile GUY SCRIVEN US technology correspondent, business affairs, The Economist bar1 bar2 GUY SCRIVEN US technology correspondent, business affairs, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 02:40 pm -2:55 pm Fireside chat: Leadership based upon value cycles vs hype cycles: quantifying the metaverse impact on business * 06:15 pm -6:30 pm Fireside chat: how can brands best interact with consumers in the metaverse? Guy Scriven is The Economist‘s US Technology Editor. Previously he was the climate risk correspondent, writing about the intersection of climate change and business. Before that he was the South-East Asia correspondent, based in Singapore, and worked on the Britain desk. He joined The Economist as a researcher in 2010. He has written for the Britain, Business, International, Europe, Asia and Finance sections. He has a particular interest in data-driven stories. 2:45 pm -3:00 pm PDT CULTIVATING CONNECTION FOR MEASURABLE ROI: WHY MARKETERS ARE DONE SPECULATING ON VIRTUAL REAL ESTATE Sponsored by Immerse * View Profile QUINN TABER Founder and chief executive, Immerse bar1 bar2 QUINN TABER Founder and chief executive, Immerse October 26th 2022 * 02:45 pm -3:00 pm Cultivating connection for measurable ROI: Why marketers are done speculating on virtual real estate * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Quinn founded Immerse, the metaverse for learning, in early 2018 while working as an investment analyst for a large charitable foundation in the Middle East. Immerse in has raised $11.5m from impact investors, been named Meta and ByteDance’s preferred partner for learning, and launched the only two-sided marketplace in the metaverse. On one side Immerse’s students learn a foreign language from a live instructor in Immerse’s popular virtual worlds. On the other side of the marketplace, Immerse has created the first platform that allows brands to advertise in the metaverse by launching branded virtual real estate, running metaverse marketing campaigns, and then minting branded digital goods that earn money. The Immerse team was recently named top ten “VR Educator of the Year” and top ten “Most Innovative VR Company of the Year,” as well as winning six other industry awards. 2:55 pm -3:10 pm PST BUILDING A METAVERSE MINDSET: HOW YOUR DIGITAL TWIN CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND TO BUILD COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Sponsored by AVEVA: Success for the industries of the future demands adopting a digital mindset: breaking down data silos to enable teams to execute faster and collaborate better. What opportunities does your enterprise digital twin in the cloud offer in building competitive advantage? And how can you leverage historical, real-time and predictive data to optimise performance? * View Profile ANDREW MCCLOSKEY Chief technology officer, executive vice-president, global engineering, AVEVA bar1 bar2 ANDREW MCCLOSKEY Chief technology officer, executive vice-president, global engineering, AVEVA October 26th 2022 * 02:55 pm -3:10 pm Building a metaverse mindset: how your digital twin can be your best friend to build competitive advantage 3:00 pm -3:30 pm PST PANEL DISCUSSION: PLAY, CREATE AND LEARN: A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE ON DIGITAL The metaverse and immersive technologies present opportunities for a different version of education. A future of learning where young people are actively shaping their own experiences, playing and learning in collaborative environments that are inherently meaningful to their community and interests. However, the current use and prospects for metaverse and technologies are often following a different path. What are the ways we can support engagement and learning through digital technologies? What do young people think about the opportunities and balance of physical and digital modes of engagement? And how do we enable children’s play, creativity and learning with the many opportunities that are presented to them? * View Profile BO STJERNE THOMSEN Chair of learning through play, vice president, The Lego Foundation bar1 bar2 BO STJERNE THOMSEN Chair of learning through play, vice president, The Lego Foundation October 26th 2022 * 03:00 pm -3:30 pm Panel discussion: play, create and learn: a youth perspective on digital Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen is vice-president, chair of Learning Through Play, and member of the Leadership Team at the LEGO Foundation. As Chair and senior expert on how children and adults learn through play, he provides consultation at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level to international partners and leaders. He represents the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Brand Group at international forums, and advises leadership teams across the LEGO entities, to attain the overall LEGO Brand Vision of becoming a global force for Learning Through Play. Over the years, Bo lead the international research agenda and organizational expertise on children’s development, play and learning for the LEGO Foundation and supporting the LEGO Group. In his previous roles as Director of the LEGO Learning Institute, Head of the Centre for Creativity, Play and Learning, and Global Head of Research, he built more than 15 international research partnerships and supported the implementation of evidence into projects across 20+ countries, to raise awareness around the role and impact of play on creativity and lifelong learning. Bo Stjerne has published widely on Creativity, Play and Learning, most recently on the integrated role of technologies in everyday life, and the systems change needed in schools and education to achieve equitable outcomes with learning through play. He is a frequent contributor and advisor to international forums like OECD, WISE, UNGA and WEF, and provides research directions for projects worldwide, to bring attention to the quality of childhood and the power of learning through play. He holds a master’s degree in design, architecture and engineering, and a PhD on performative technologies and learning environments. He has been a visiting scholar at the MIT Media Lab in Boston, studied research management and leadership at Copenhagen Business School and IMD in Switzerland, and an advisor to various international research organizations including the Torrance Centre for Creativity, the University of Cambridge PEDAL Research Centre, WISE, OECD, Design for Play in Denmark, World Innovation Summit for Education, and the Lifelong Learning Lab at Tsinghua University. You can follow him on Twitter: @BoStjerne * View Profile DR. MEGAN W. TAYLOR Director, Exploratorium Teacher Institute bar1 bar2 DR. MEGAN W. TAYLOR Director, Exploratorium Teacher Institute October 26th 2022 * 03:00 pm -3:30 pm Panel discussion: play, create and learn: a youth perspective on digital Dr. Megan W. Taylor came to the Exploratorium from Trellis Education, which she founded in 2015 to ensure students in California public schools have exceptional math and science teachers who share critical identities with them. Megan has taught teachers and students for two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. She earned an MA and a PhD in mathematics education from Stanford University, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Harvard Graduate School of Education before proudly joining the California State University system as faculty in the Sonoma State School of Education. Megan identifies as a woman, a mother, and an activist, and is committed to using her privileges to disrupt the impact of oppression and poverty in public education. Megan lives with her family in San Francisco, where she spends most of her spare time doing crossword puzzles and befriending spiders in Golden Gate Park. * View Profile AZA DEGREGORIO Student, New Traditions Elementary School bar1 bar2 AZA DEGREGORIO Student, New Traditions Elementary School October 26th 2022 * 03:00 pm -3:30 pm Panel discussion: play, create and learn: a youth perspective on digital Aza Degregorio is a 10-year-old who goes to New Traditions Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District. She plays soccer, loves baking and building, and makes incredible pop-up cards for all her friends’ and families’ birthdays. She has a twin sister named Dillon and a dog named Cypress. 3:10 pm -3:30 pm PST CASE STUDY: HOW AND WHY UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE IS BUILDING A DIGITAL TWIN United States Space Force (USSF) Guardians are the custodians of American Spacepower, charged with preserving freedom in space, enabling joint defence of national interests, and executing space operations. Unfortunately, Guardians today are equipped with antiquated tools, techniques, and technologies for force design, system development, training, and operations which limit the Space Force’s ability to support full-spectrum, multi-domain operations. The USSF is exploring the emerging world of commercial Metaverse technologies to try and address these limits on Guardians and space operations, and driving the Space Force forward as the first U.S. born-digital service within the Department of Defense. * View Profile DR. LISA A. COSTA Chief technology and innovation officer, United States Space Force bar1 bar2 DR. LISA A. COSTA Chief technology and innovation officer, United States Space Force October 26th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:30 pm Case study: how and why United States Space Force is building a digital twin Dr. Lisa A. Costa, a member of the senior executive service, is the first permanent chief technology and innovation officer (CTIO) of United States Space Force. In this role, she is charged with unlocking and harnessing innovation to leverage increased speed and advantage. She is responsible for developing strategy and policy to advance Science and Technology and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; employing cutting edge technologies to digitally transform the USSF; assuring USSF information technology needs are met; effectively managing USSF data; and conducting analysis supporting all USSF staff elements. Prior to her current CTIO role, she served as director, communications Systems and chief information officer for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Dr. Costa also served as the senior director of innovation and technology at Engility Corporation where she brought big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to client verticals. She served as the vice president of intelligence and chief scientist at PlanetRisk, a global leader in 365/24/7 real-time predictive risk analytics. She brought progressive leadership to complex and sensitive problems facing nations and global Fortune 500 companies. She is an expert in ubiquitous technical surveillance and tradecraft. She was formerly the director of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) and Violent Extremism at MITRE where she chaired the MITRE Corporate CWMD/Counterterrorism Council and led projects for the nation. Before that, Dr. Costa was the Executive Director of Integration and the Enterprise Systems Engineer for MITRE’s National Security Center responsible for integrating sponsor outcomes across various missions, agencies, and programs. She provided executive strategic planning for business operations and advancing the Center’s $1.2B business base. She advised HASC and SASC staffers on emerging science and technology. She advised new presidential administrations on emerging global risk and opportunities. As a member of the Defense Science Board on numerous Task Forces and Summer Studies, Dr. Costa helped shape the US model for homeland security, special operations’ role in countering terrorism, developed novel approaches to WMD early warning, and championed the use of publicly available information for great power competition. Dr. Costa was MITRE’s chief scientist for every Combatant Command and Defense and Service Intelligence agency in the DoD. She was on the OSD Senior Technical Experts Group and led MITRE’s Independent Research and Development (R&D) to develop patented, globally licensed work in advanced data analytics. Dr. Costa was responsible for establishing the largest data repository and AI-enabled data mining capability outside The National Capital Region in support of special mission unit target adjudication. As Director of the Non-Traditional Information and Knowledge Exploitation cell at USSOCOM, She led multidisciplinary teams to develop worldwide intelligence assessments. These efforts were at the request of Combatant Commanders to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. This model was used for developing intel/ops centers across the globe. * View Profile MICHAEL TORRES Chief of digital infrastructure, United States Space Force bar1 bar2 MICHAEL TORRES Chief of digital infrastructure, United States Space Force October 26th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:30 pm Case study: how and why United States Space Force is building a digital twin 3:30 pm -3:45 pm PST THE LUXURY OPPORTUNITY: HOW WEB3 AND BRANDS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO DISRUPT THE FUTURE * View Profile NELLY MENSAH Vice-president of digital innovation and emerging solutions, LVMH bar1 bar2 NELLY MENSAH Vice-president of digital innovation and emerging solutions, LVMH October 26th 2022 * 03:30 pm -3:45 pm The luxury opportunity: how web3 and brands can work together to disrupt the future Nelly Mensah is the vice-president of digital innovation and emerging solutions at LVMH where she heads Web3 and metaverse efforts globally. In her previous role at Sephora, Nelly led future innovation and digital store experience. In parallel, Nelly has been deeply involved in blockchain for over 5 years. She co-founded a blockchain developer community and consulted for multiple projects in the crypto space. Prior to Sephora, Nelly spent 5 years in Deloitte Digital where she focused on digital transformation and experience design. She has worked with multiple Fortune 100 companies in a variety of industries across three continents and has led multi-national workshops on topics including business process optimization, innovation skills training and futures thinking. She is passionate about applying human-centered design to emerging technologies in order to deliver business impact and transform client experience. Nelly holds a B.S. in industrial engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from MIT Sloan where she focused on technology management, retail innovation, as well as conscious leadership. 3:30 pm -3:45 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: INTEROPERABILITY IN THE METAVERSE: REALISING THE ABILITY TO UNIFY ECONOMIES, AVATARS, AND SYSTEMS ACROSS PLATFORMS Sponsored by KPMG Can the metaverse live up to the hype? Not without interoperability. In this session, discover standardization hurtles to overcome, common misconceptions, and how enterprises can position themselves for success in the evolving metaverse landscape. * View Profile CLIFF JUSTICE National leader of enterprise innovation, KPMG U.S. bar1 bar2 CLIFF JUSTICE National leader of enterprise innovation, KPMG U.S. October 26th 2022 * 03:30 pm -3:45 pm Fireside chat: Interoperability in the metaverse: Realising the ability to unify economies, avatars, and systems across platforms Cliff Justice is the KPMG U.S. Leader of Enterprise Innovation where he and his group focus on identifying, developing, and deploying the next generation of technologies and solutions for KPMG and its clients. In this role, Cliff has established KPMG Studio, a new business incubator, accelerator and Center of Excellence; KPMG Minority Venture Investments; and the firm’s Innovation Network. He is currently leading the firm’s strategic roadmap for its future businesses and services in the Metaverse and Web3. Cliff joined KPMG in 2008 and helped establish its U.S. Management Consulting business. In 2011, Cliff led the acquisition and integration of his former firm, EquaTerra, which subsequently established KPMG as one of the world’s largest shared services and outsourcing advisory firms. Cliff helped develop and execute KPMG strategy in artificial intelligence and automation, as well as the firm’s market facing business in Robotic Process Automation globally. Since then, KPMG has been recognized by analysts and clients as a leader in AI and intelligent automation with a portfolio of relevant client applications. Cliff is a former entrepreneur and is a recognized authority in global sourcing, emerging technology, and enterprise transformation with 30 years of experience in industry and consulting. More recently he has led the Strategic Growth Investments for KPMG digital capabilities, which include innovations in cloud, blockchain, AI, and automation. Cliff is an Ambassador to the World Economic Forum’s Village Partnership, devoted to contributing to the development of the Global Collaboration Village and sharing about the potential of the metaverse. * View Profile STEVE SUAREZ Global head of innovation, global functions, HSBC bar1 bar2 STEVE SUAREZ Global head of innovation, global functions, HSBC October 26th 2022 * 03:30 pm -3:45 pm Fireside chat: Interoperability in the metaverse: Realising the ability to unify economies, avatars, and systems across platforms Steve Suarez is the global head of innovation for both finance and risk at HSBC, leading an innovation ecosystem to shape structure and deliver better ways of serving our customers through innovative solutions. He is an accomplished transformation expert with 28 years of experience in consulting, telecommunications and financial services, guiding geographically diverse teams and driving large scale complex strategic initiatives across multiple organisations. Mr Suarez establishes strong connections with executive stakeholders and corporate partners alike. His passion for innovation and the growth mind-set drives his continuous learning, the most recent of which is the innovation and leadership program at MIT where he has become an MIT Sloan Alumnus. 3:45 pm -4:00 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: A NEW ERA OF CONTENT: OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATORS IN THE METAVERSE Why the future of content is immersive and interactive and how to get started as a content creator in the metaverse. * View Profile DJ SKEE Founder, DXSH.mv Metaverse studios and chief metaverse officer, TSX bar1 bar2 DJ SKEE Founder, DXSH.mv Metaverse studios and chief metaverse officer, TSX October 26th 2022 * 03:45 pm -4:00 pm Fireside chat: a new era of content: opportunities for innovators in the metaverse DJ Skee built an empire by consistently identifying the next trends in music and culture first. As a DJ, Skee is best known for introducing the world to artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Travis Scott, and more on his TV and radio platforms. Skee has produced for defining artists of this era ranging from Snoop Dogg to Michael Jackson and composed music for top selling video game series like HALO and Ghost Recon. As a performer, Skee has opened up and held residencies at high-profile clubs and venues globally, including XS at the Wynn/Encore in Las Vegas and US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Skee has been honored with numerous awards and accolades including Mixtape and Radio DJ Of The Year, Billboard and Forbes “30 Under 30,” as well a mayoral proclamation in his hometown of St. Paul Minnesota, declaring May 26th “DJ Skee Day.” In raw numbers, Skee has generated over four billion views and has a network of over two million followers. With multiple ventures under his umbrella, DJ Skee is more than a DJ. A driving force behind some of the biggest brands over the past decade like Beats By Dre, Skee has helped numerous Fortune 500 brands including Nike and Google. After spending over a decade on satellite and FM radio, Skee founded Dash and turned it into the world’s largest all original digital radio platform. Skee produced the Netflix original documentary “Sneakerheadz,” has produced eleven number one music videos, and hosted/produced five seasons of Skee TV on Fuse. Skee is an early venture investor in several unicorns, including StockX, HotelTonight (acquired by Airbnb), Thrive, and more. Skee Sports is an award-winning sports content and game day entertainment agency that currently works across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. Skee is an owner of Cards & Coffee in Hollywood and runs the collectible alternative asset fund, Mint10. Most passionately, Skee is an active Philanthropist working with numerous organizations, including the UN Foundation and GRAMMY Foundation. * View Profile QUHARRISON TERRY Author of The Metaverse Handbook bar1 bar2 QUHARRISON TERRY Author of The Metaverse Handbook October 26th 2022 * 03:45 pm -4:00 pm Fireside chat: a new era of content: opportunities for innovators in the metaverse QuHarrison Terry is the bestselling author of The NFT Handbook and The Metaverse Handbook. He is also a growth marketer who has advised Mark Cuban and his portfolio of 200+ venture companies. In addition, QuHarrison is a 4x recipient of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology award and the co-host of CNBC’s primetime series No Retreat: Business Bootcamp. 3:45 pm -4:00 pm PST THE GHOST PROBLEM: CAN WE TRULY IMMERSE PEOPLE IN VIRTUAL WORLDS WITHOUT REALISTIC TOUCH FEEDBACK? Sponsored by HaptX: Some believe touch is the most important missing element of the metaverse. Particularly so in enterprise and industrial applications which seek to train workers to perform manual skills, with productivity, profitability, and even life or death consequences at stake. How critical is touch to the future of the enterprise metaverse? And what technologies can organisations deploy, today and in the future, to create virtual and mixed reality environments with the sensory richness of real life? * View Profile JOE MICHAELS Chief revenue officer, HaptX bar1 bar2 JOE MICHAELS Chief revenue officer, HaptX October 26th 2022 * 03:45 pm -4:00 pm The ghost problem: can we truly immerse people in virtual worlds without realistic touch feedback? Joe Michaels is chief revenue officer at HaptX, where he leads business development, marketing, and sales for the company with the leading haptics solution that brings lifelike touch to VR and robotics. He speaks at events and conferences around the world on the topic of haptics in the metaverse. Joe has decades of business development experience, including as Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy at Microsoft, where he helped create pioneering video and digital content products. He was co-founder and chief marketing officer at Nexchange Corporation which earned numerous U.S. patents related to e-commerce. Joe graduated from Georgetown University and earned his MBA at The Wharton School. 4:00 pm -4:30 am PST NETWORKING BREAK 4:30 pm -5:00 pm PST PANEL DISCUSSION: BUILDING A VALUES-BASED BUSINESS AND PUTTING YOUR USERS FIRST: WHAT IS THE UPSIDE OF GREATER TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY? Sponsored by Immerse: What responsibility do brands have to their communities in the metaverse? How will companies generate a return on investment in the metaverse—and how quickly? How do you measure ROI across digital and in-person goods? How do brands translate values virtually? * View Profile ADI ABILI Head of Metaverse, ABIn Bev bar1 bar2 ADI ABILI Head of Metaverse, ABIn Bev October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Adi Abili is the head of metaverse for BEES, ABIn Bev, the world’s biggest brewer. She has a background in cryptocurrency, innovation, venture capital, and more recently, Metaverse. She has launched various products globally, and has been involved with innovation at ABIn Bev for the last 5 years. As an early adopter, Adi started her Metaverse journey through a love of Crypto, and Web3, learning from some of its biggest supporters in Silicon Valley. Prior to being in the Bay, Adi working in the banking sector in Luxembourg, and holds an MSc in Finance and Financial Law * View Profile KRISTEN COLONNA Vice-president, marketing accelerator, Pernod Ricard USA bar1 bar2 KRISTEN COLONNA Vice-president, marketing accelerator, Pernod Ricard USA October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Kristen Colonna serves as vice president, marketing accelerator at Pernod Ricard USA, where she is responsible for leading the multidisciplinary, Center of Excellence that will enable Pernod Ricard USA’s marketing, sales, and commercialization functions to drive forward the success of the company. Kristen joined Pernod Ricard with over 15 years of experience in business, marketing, and communications. She previously served as chief strategy officer for OMD North America, where she was responsible for leading the strategic planning and integrated media planning practice, as well as developing global agency products to enable the delivery of data-driven and consumer centric marketing. * View Profile PAMELA SNIVELY Chief data & trust officer, TELUS bar1 bar2 PAMELA SNIVELY Chief data & trust officer, TELUS October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Pamela Snively is the chief data & trust officer at TELUS. She leads the team responsible for privacy governance and data ethics, along with data management and a number of compliance functions, including the Anti-bribery & Corruption and Competition Law programs. Pam approaches overall data governance through the lens of customer trust, leveraging TELUS’ Customer First principle to drive the organization’s commitment to privacy and data ethics. Pam is a lawyer but has dedicated most of her career to developing and operationalizing privacy best practices, either as a consultant or in-house. Under Pam’s leadership, TELUS has significantly transformed its approach to transparency about its data handling practices. This has included a refresh of the TELUS Privacy Centre to include layered information on TELUS’ data management practices, as well as some best practices to help our customers protect their information. Pam has also published the framework for her privacy management program online, encouraging TELUS’ customers to more fully understand what responsible private sector organizations do to protect privacy. Pamela was the recipient of the 2017 Ontario Bar Association’s Karen Spector Memorial Award for Excellence in Privacy Law. She participates in a number of national and international think-tanks and governance bodies related to privacy and data governance, including serving as a Board member for the Information Accountability Foundation and on the Privacy and Data Advisory Committee for the Canadian Marketing Association. She is also a founding member and Chair of Canada’s Business Privacy Group, a working group made up of some of Canada’s leading privacy professionals and industry associations focused on building trust in Canada’s digital ecosystem and legislative regime. Pam is a frequent speaker on privacy and data ethics and she actively encourages other organizations to join her in her mission to earn and elevate consumer trust in our digital ecosystem. * View Profile ERIN SCHAEFER Vice president of revenue and global operations, Niantic bar1 bar2 ERIN SCHAEFER Vice president of revenue and global operations, Niantic October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Erin joined Niantic in October 2020 where she is the vice president of revenue and global operations. Founded in 2011 and spun out from Google in 2015, Niantic, the creator of Pokemon GO, is the world’s leading augmented reality technology company, sparking creative and engaging journeys in the real world through games. As a member of Niantic’s Executive Leadership Team, Erin oversees brand partnerships and advertising sales, customer support for 40M+ users, data operations (including building a 3D map of the world), and trust and safety efforts. Prior to joining Niantic, Erin spent 14 years at Google where she led global teams in multiple operating functions – Sales, Partnerships, Operations, People and Finance – and consistently over-delivered against big company-level goals across Advertising, YouTube and Google Cloud. Chief accomplishments include: – growing Google’s TV and YouTube advertising businesses from $0 in revenue to $10B by developing and leading Google’s first go-to-market function (a combination of product development, product marketing and sales) and delivering creative solutions including the conception and execution of Google Preferred, YouTube’s TV alternative advertising package along with Google’s larger Global Incentive Program – exceeding partner and user satisfaction and retention goals for global audiences in the hundreds of thousands and billions respectively including via initiation and landing of a holistic change to YouTube’s partner service model to increase retention of media and music companies and creators that distribute content on the platform – leading a successful turnaround and building new teams in complex environments, as evidenced by the notable and swift pivot of YouTube’s Trust & Safety function from a reactive to a proactive organization to effectively remove terrorist content from YouTube * View Profile QUINN TABER Founder and chief executive, Immerse bar1 bar2 QUINN TABER Founder and chief executive, Immerse October 26th 2022 * 02:45 pm -3:00 pm Cultivating connection for measurable ROI: Why marketers are done speculating on virtual real estate * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Quinn founded Immerse, the metaverse for learning, in early 2018 while working as an investment analyst for a large charitable foundation in the Middle East. Immerse in has raised $11.5m from impact investors, been named Meta and ByteDance’s preferred partner for learning, and launched the only two-sided marketplace in the metaverse. On one side Immerse’s students learn a foreign language from a live instructor in Immerse’s popular virtual worlds. On the other side of the marketplace, Immerse has created the first platform that allows brands to advertise in the metaverse by launching branded virtual real estate, running metaverse marketing campaigns, and then minting branded digital goods that earn money. The Immerse team was recently named top ten “VR Educator of the Year” and top ten “Most Innovative VR Company of the Year,” as well as winning six other industry awards. MODERATED BY * View Profile CATHERINE HENRY Senior vice president of metaverse innovation strategy, Media.Monks bar1 bar2 CATHERINE HENRY Senior vice president of metaverse innovation strategy, Media.Monks October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -5:00 pm Panel discussion: building a values-based business and putting your users first: what is the upside of greater trust and transparency? Catherine is a leading voice shaping our understanding of the Metaverse. A seasoned economist who began her career as a tech analyst at the World Bank, Catherine focuses on how advances in virtualization, ubiquitous high/speed connectivity, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are transforming business today. With a career spanning nearly 20 years in global financial services leading institutional sales for private and equity tech investments, Catherine coaches companies on how the Metaverse will affect their business. As SVP of Web3, Metaverse Strategy at Media.Monks, Catherine combines emerging technology macro forecasting with strategic planning to guide major global brands onto the Metaverse. Through decoding technology and interactive experiences, she helps brands negotiate new worlds, immersive platforms and consumer behaviors. She earned an MA in economics at the Johns Hopkins SAIS, and post-graduate studies did post-graduate work in Economics and Management at SDA Bocconi and in immersive media & VR Film making at NY Film Academy. Catherine has lived and worked extensively in Europe and Asia and speaks five languages. 4:30 pm -4:45 pm PST SECURITY AND PRIVACY IN A NEW LAWLESS VIRTUAL FRONTIER We have yet to find the answer to a digital identity ecosystem that balances the individual’s varied views of privacy. We still struggle to address the economic risks of cyber criminality as a business or nation state sponsored cyber violations. Our inherent cognitive bias and evolved intuition hinders and falters in the cyber world today. What do these challenges and others mean for the metaverse in all its incarnations? This session we will address some of the challenges, benefits and drawbacks of a digital twin in the context of privacy and security. * View Profile TIMOTHY ROHRBAUGH Chief information security officer, JetBlue Airways bar1 bar2 TIMOTHY ROHRBAUGH Chief information security officer, JetBlue Airways October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -4:45 pm Security and privacy in a new lawless virtual frontier * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Tim Rohrbaugh is the CISO of JetBlue Airways. He is a senior security and data governance professional. The range of his prior work is extremely technical through product and program strategy. Prior to his role at JetBlue, Tim was the CISO for a public financial services firm for 12 years. His cybersecurity experience includes military, DoD and federal, and commercial consulting. He is a CISSP and holds two joint patents on Identity Verification. 4:45 pm -5:00 pm PST DOES THE METAVERSE MAKE IT EASIER TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS? THE PROMISE AND POTENTIAL OF A SHARED SUPPLY CHAIN FOR METAVERSE BRANDS As brands continue to gain competitive advantage by creating the best products and experiences for consumers, what is the key to winning on the back end? How can a brand’s fulfilment strategy translate into happier customers? And can the metaverse materially support sustainability goals? * View Profile SHEKAR NATARAJAN Executive vice president of supply chain, American Eagle Outfitters bar1 bar2 SHEKAR NATARAJAN Executive vice president of supply chain, American Eagle Outfitters October 26th 2022 * 04:45 pm -5:00 pm Does the metaverse make it easier to achieve sustainability goals? The promise and potential of a shared supply chain for metaverse brands Shekar Natarajan is a transformative leader with a record of progressive, positive disruption and industry-standard-setting innovation for top Fortune 100 companies. In his nearly 20-year career, Shekar has created an industry-standard last-mile beverage delivery system; re-engineered a grocery home delivery/ pick-up operating model; built and scaled grocery-shopping operations; created and piloted a distribution center drone program; built an automated direct-store delivery system; developed methodologies followed by the White House & FEMA; and enhanced visitor theme park experience through wearable RFID technology. As AEO’s EVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Shekar has brought transformation to the specialty retailer to create a robust ecosystem of operations rooted in operational excellence, strategy, data analytics and partnership. Shekar’s role was expanded in November 2021, when he became the leader of the newly acquired AirTerra and Quiet Platforms 5:00 pm -5:15 pm PST SAFEGUARDING THE METAVERSE AND EXTENDED REALITIES As the industry looks towards mass adoption of XR and building brave new virtual worlds and ultimately the metaverse, what are the traditional and novel threats and how can we get ready for the emerging and disruptive threats? * View Profile KAVYA PEARLMAN Founder & chief executive, XR Safety Initiative bar1 bar2 KAVYA PEARLMAN Founder & chief executive, XR Safety Initiative October 26th 2022 * 05:00 pm -5:15 pm Safeguarding the metaverse and extended realities Kavya Pearlman, well known as the “Cyber Guardian,” is the founder & chief executive of the XR Safety Initiative (XRSI) – a standard developing organization for emerging technologies. Award-winning cybersecurity professional with a deep interest in immersive and emerging technologies, Kavya is a pioneer of the novel XRSI Privacy and Safety Framework for the Immersive Technologies Domain, Security awareness in the Metaverse, and various baseline security and privacy standards for Emerging Technologies. She has won several awards for her work and has been named one of the Top twenty Cybersecurity influencers for three consecutive years, 2018-2019-2020, and again for the year 2022 by IFSEC Global. Kavya serves as a key member of the Global Coalition for Digital Safety at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and part of the Metaverse Initiative at WEF via XRSI. Kavya currently advises over 20 global governments on global policies for emerging technologies and human rights considerations. Kavya provides oversight to Metaverse Standard Forum and Responsible Metaverse Alliance via XRSI. Kavya is a category Queen who has pioneered XR Safety Domain and founded The CyberXR Coalition, which focuses on diversity and inclusion and the cross-section of Cybersecurity and XR, helped launch a trustworthy XR news platform, ReadyHackerOne established a Medical XR Advisory Council, and Metaverse Reality Check (The MRC) – an oversight board for and by the citizens. Kavya has previously advised Facebook on third-party security risks during the 2016 US presidential elections and worked as the head of security for the oldest virtual world, “Second Life” by Linden Lab. Kavya is the leading voice in cybersecurity, privacy, and Ethics for Emerging technologies including AR, VR, and XR, exploring cross-sections of 5G, AI, and BCI – leading Standards development and promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Immersive Technologies. Kavya is one of the Top 50 speakers in the cybersecurity industry and constantly shares knowledge via webinars, conference talks, and blog posts around Application Security, Cloud-native technologies, Machine Learning, and the global challenges that come along with the next iteration of the internet, the Metaverse and web 3.0. 5:00 pm -5:15 pm PST THE GROUP CALLS THE SHOTS: HOW CORPORATES CAN GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE DAWN OF THE DAO What value does it bring to your employees and your consumers if you make part of your organisation a DAO? Could DAOs make boards redundant? What would be the implications for employees? Are DAOs a new way to go public? Will crypto pay become widespread? * View Profile ORI SHIMONY Co-founder, dOrg bar1 bar2 ORI SHIMONY Co-founder, dOrg October 26th 2022 * 05:00 pm -5:15 pm The group calls the shots: how corporates can get comfortable with the dawn of the DAO Ori Shimony is a DAO specialist focused on helping communities coordinate more autonomously. Ori is a founding member of dOrg, a web3 engineering DAO that became the first legally recognized DAO in 2019. dOrg has since grown to over 80 members across 15 countries, servicing dozens of leading web3 projects. Ori is also Venture Partner at Portal, a $40m crypto VC, where he helps portfolio projects with economic and governance design. Ori actively contributes to several web3 standards initiatives, including Polywrap, DAO Model Law, Internet Policy Review, and DAOstar. Ori has run web3 onboarding and smart contract development workshops around the world. He has presented on DAOs at Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Web3 University and been featured in Time, Nasdaq, and Coindesk. Ori’s crypto journey began in 2015 TA’ing the University of Virginia’s cryptocurrency course and researching early bitcoin use-cases beyond payments. 5:15 pm -5:30 pm PST HOW AND WHY SHOULD I OPEN A STORE IN THE METAVERSE? SHOULD IT REPLICATE OR REPLACE MY BRICKS-AND-MORTAR? TAPPING INTO THE RETAILTAINMENT TREND What exactly are a brand’s virtual retail opportunities? And how can brand leaders make the case for investing in this space? What are the key elements of a successful and authentic B2C experience in the metaverse? What are the most innovative tools at our disposal? * View Profile NEHA SINGH Founder and chief executive, Obsess bar1 bar2 NEHA SINGH Founder and chief executive, Obsess October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:30 pm How and why should I open a store in the metaverse? Should it replicate or replace my bricks-and-mortar? Tapping into the retailtainment trend Neha Singh is the founder and chief executive of Obsess, an experiential e-commerce platform enabling brands and retailers to create visual, immersive, 3D virtual stores on their websites and on metaverse platforms. She was previously the Head of Product at Vogue, where she was responsible for the product strategy and technology execution of Vogue’s digital business including content products, ad products and distribution platforms. Prior to that, Neha was VP of Product and Engineering at AHAlife, an e-commerce startup for luxury lifestyle products. Neha began her career at Google, where she was a Software Engineer and Tech Lead for 5 years and worked on Google AdWords and Google News. She holds an undergraduate Computer Science degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a graduate Computer Science degree from MIT. 5:15 pm -5:45 pm PST PANEL DISCUSSION: WHO ARE YOU AND WHO ARE YOUR TRIBES? WHAT DO IDENTITY AND AUTHENTICITY LOOK LIKE IN THE METAVERSE? Sponsored by Virbela: Who should we aspire to be in the metaverse? Recognisable from our real-world personas? Is your avatar the best version of you? What choice should we be able to make about our digital selves to build an inclusive metaverse for all? How do we authenticate identity to hold users accountable for their actions * View Profile TOM EMRICH Director of product management, Niantic bar1 bar2 TOM EMRICH Director of product management, Niantic October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Tom Emrich is recognized as one of the world’s leading thought leaders in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and wearable technology. A pioneer in this space, Tom has over a decade-long track record of running tech teams and providing strategic direction in emerging technologies for powerhouse brands and organizations. As Director of Product Management, Tom is leading product and marketing for 8th Wall, now a part of Niantic, which offers a powerful development platform to create web-based augmented reality (WebAR). 8th Wall has powered over 50,000 web apps including thousands of commercial experiences for top brands across industry verticals. Previous to 8th Wall, Tom was a founding partner of the first VC fund dedicated to augmented reality, Super Ventures; co-producer of AWE, the world’s #1 spatial computing community; and a freelance journalist and recurring expert on TV covering AR/VR and wearable technology. Tom on Twitter @TomEmrich. * View Profile TIMOTHY ROHRBAUGH Chief information security officer, JetBlue Airways bar1 bar2 TIMOTHY ROHRBAUGH Chief information security officer, JetBlue Airways October 26th 2022 * 04:30 pm -4:45 pm Security and privacy in a new lawless virtual frontier * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Tim Rohrbaugh is the CISO of JetBlue Airways. He is a senior security and data governance professional. The range of his prior work is extremely technical through product and program strategy. Prior to his role at JetBlue, Tim was the CISO for a public financial services firm for 12 years. His cybersecurity experience includes military, DoD and federal, and commercial consulting. He is a CISSP and holds two joint patents on Identity Verification. * View Profile ELIZABETH HYMAN President and chief operating officer, XR Association bar1 bar2 ELIZABETH HYMAN President and chief operating officer, XR Association October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Elizabeth Hyman is president and chief operating officer of the XR Association (XRA), the trade association promoting the dynamic growth of the XR industry which includes virtual reality, augmented reality, mixedreality, and immersive technologies yet to be invented. XRA is dedicated to the responsible development and thoughtful advancement of XR technologies across the globe. Prior to joining XRA, Ms. Hyman served as Executive Vice President of Public Advocacy at the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), where she led the association’s outreach to members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and other international, federal, state, and local government institutions that shape public policies affecting the IT industry. Ms. Hyman brings more than two decades of experience in the worlds of government, policy, and technology. She began her career in government, including positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of the President, and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and has experience in the private sector both in the practice of law and in business. She is a graduate of Tufts University, completed the General Course program at the London School of Economics, and holds a law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. * View Profile MATTHEW MCDERMOTT Chief client officer, Access Partnership bar1 bar2 MATTHEW MCDERMOTT Chief client officer, Access Partnership October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Matthew McDermott is chief client officer at Access Partnership, a leading public policy firm dedicated to opening new markets for technology. With almost two decades of experience in the ICT sector, Matthew has an in-depth understanding of the current global market and regularly participates in multistakeholder dialogues on regulation and policy and the impact of digital identities. He has a strong track record of using policy and regulatory engagement as a tool for bringing products to market and embedding clients as trusted advisers to technology policy influencers and decision makers in their key markets. Before taking up his current position, Matthew was the director for public policy in EMEA where he advised clients on ICT policy, trade, cloud procurement, data security and privacy, and developed advocacy campaigns to inform decision-makers on technological trends. * View Profile ALEX HOWLAND PH.D. Co-founder and president, Virbela bar1 bar2 ALEX HOWLAND PH.D. Co-founder and president, Virbela October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Alex Howland, Ph.D. is president and co-founder of Virbela, a virtual world for work, learning and events, and one of the pioneering metaverse companies. Howland created Virbela in 2012, before it was purchased and made public by eXp World Holdings in 2018. Virbela is redefining the workplace for global businesses, building the next-generation of products for the Metaverse and VR to give organizations and people greater choice and control over how they work. Alex leads the development of Virbela’s products and services — continuing to expand the platform to accommodate not just business workspaces, but classrooms, event spaces, and recreational areas as well. Prior to co-founding Virbela, Howland was an instructor in the Psychology Department at University of California, San Diego, where he taught Industrial and Organizational Psychology to undergraduate students. His expertise in organizational psychology gives him a unique perspective on creating virtual work and education spaces. He designed Virbela specifically to create a unique virtual experience where users feel psychologically safe and are more likely to collaborate, brainstorm, and succeed. Howland has a bachelor of science in psychology from Providence College, and his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Alliant International University, San Diego. MODERATED BY * View Profile DAN BURGAR Co-founder and chief executive, Frontier Collective bar1 bar2 DAN BURGAR Co-founder and chief executive, Frontier Collective October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? Dan is a pioneer in the technology space and a leader within the VR/AR/Metaverse industry. He knows Vancouver and BC have the opportunity to become global leaders in innovation. He believes it takes collaboration, inclusivity, and diversity to create a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. He’s committed to driving adoption and innovation in the Metaverse to enhance human experiences. Dan’s technological insights have elevated him to ceo and co-founder of Frontier Collective, which is bringing a new innovation to Vancouver through community and also president of the Vancouver VR/AR Association, an organization that catapulted Vancouver to become the industry’s second largest global hub. His contributions have greatly influenced the virtual and augmented reality presence across the BC region, as well as throughout Canada. Dan also co-founded Shape Immersive, a company specializing in the building of VR/AR + 3D development, which has collaborated with notable brands in many verticals including Redbull, Olympics, Disney, Star Atlas and RTFKT studios (NFTs). Nominated as 2021’s LinkedIn Top Voices: Technology & Innovation, BIV’s Top Forty Under 40, and named as a BC500 leader, Dan has written for and offered tech insights to publications including TechCrunch, Betakit, VR Scout, DailyHive, and BC Business. His dedication to the industry has been spotlighted in media outlets such as Forbes, CTV, CBC, and Business in Vancouver. Dan has curated events and spoken at venues around the globe including Web Summit (2021), SXSW, Annecy Festival France, TED Conference, AWE, AWE EU, Extraordinary Future Conference, and VR Days. Dan also advises and mentors many fast-growing startups and entrepreneurs with an emphasis on diversity. 5:30 pm -5:45 pm PST ARE AVATARS THE NEW INFLUENCERS? WHAT DOES INFLUENCER-MARKETING LOOK LIKE IN THE METAVERSE? According to a recent survey by HypeAuditor, virtual influencers experience on average 3x fan engagement than their human equivalents. With the momentum behind the metaverse, is virtual influencer marketing set to become the new norm? How best to take advantage of the avatar opportunity? * View Profile SHEP OGDEN Co-founder and chief executive, Offbeat Media Group bar1 bar2 SHEP OGDEN Co-founder and chief executive, Offbeat Media Group October 26th 2022 * 05:30 pm -5:45 pm Are avatars the new influencers? What does influencer-marketing look like in the metaverse? Shep Ogden is a 26-year-old pioneer in the virtual avatar and social influence sphere. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Offbeat Media Group, a Mark-Cuban backed media company. Offbeat influences a global Gen Z audience of 1B+ social followers for the world’s top brands, regularly sparking trends across the world while delivering billions of impressions. In addition to helping brands navigate social-first content, Offbeat has been propelling the virtual influencer industry through the creation of VirtualHumans.org, helping brands navigate virtual influencers, and creating our own roster of virtual human IP powered that now has hundreds of thousands of followers. Offbeat is building their roster of virtual humans to become the avatar celebrities of the future. * View Profile ZERO Virtual Influencer bar1 bar2 ZERO Virtual Influencer October 26th 2022 * 05:30 pm -5:45 pm Are avatars the new influencers? What does influencer-marketing look like in the metaverse? Zero is a virtual cyborg living and creating content from his bunker in the Nexus Universe. He is constantly learning about the human world via his community of fans on Twitch, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Discord. Zero currently boasts over 350,000 fans across his social pages and is growing this base rapidly. Zero has been featured in publications such as AdAge, Adweek, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and more for his presence on social media and his work with innovative brands. You can find him @ZeroFromNexus on all platforms. 5:45 pm -6:00 pm PST WELCOME TO THE METAVERSE AGE: HUMAN TOKENIZATION AND METAVERSE CITIZENSHIP The Internet is connecting the world as technology is transcending the human experience to its next iteration. We will all live in the metaverse as converging technologies will change everything we know. From identity to ownership, from social interactions to economics, commerce, governance, and public services. * View Profile TEDDY PAHAGBIA Founder, BLVCK PiXEL bar1 bar2 TEDDY PAHAGBIA Founder, BLVCK PiXEL October 26th 2022 * 05:45 pm -6:00 pm Welcome to the metaverse age: human tokenization and metaverse citizenship Teddy a.k.a Mr. Metaverse is one of the most influential people in the Metaverse. As a visionary thinker, a bold entrepreneur and a tech geek, his journey from an engineering background and having worked across many industries and government agencies, managing infrastructure, service design and digital transformation projects, has led him to the forefront of innovation. After more than 20 years of a corporate life, he launched BLVCK PiXEL, a Metaverse and Digital Innovation Consultancy based in Paris, at a time when the topic was still unheard from the public. The firm operates globally by using an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of Technology and Anthropology, to unlock opportunities and create new ways in the digital age. Besides advising the largest and most iconic brands in the world on how to future-proof their business model, Teddy is an advocate of the use of technology for the greater good of humanity. He regularly speaks at business schools, prestigious universities and global tech events, spreading the word, evangelizing and educating on the future of the internet, commerce and socialization in a hyper-connected reality. 5:45 pm -6:00 pm PST WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN IN THE METAVERSE? As we usher in the metaverse to help bring people together, how can we make sure that it is a positive place, and the new technology created for it supports this vision? What does it mean to be a good citizen in the metaverse and how to make the rules apply to everyone? * View Profile CRAIG DONATO Chief business officer, Roblox bar1 bar2 CRAIG DONATO Chief business officer, Roblox October 26th 2022 * 05:45 pm -6:00 pm What does it mean to be a good citizen in the metaverse? Craig Donato serves as chief business officer for Roblox. He leads the growth of the Roblox platform on a global scale, driving brand awareness and engagement, ensuring the safety and success of its user and developer communities, and establishing a healthy ecosystem for creators to build immersive experiences. He oversees the company’s global partnerships, care and safety, and developer relations teams. Prior to Roblox, Craig led business development and monetization at Nextdoor, a social network for neighborhoods. He was also the CEO and co-founder of Oodle, a local community marketplace that was acquired by QVC in 2012. Craig graduated with an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. MODERATED BY * View Profile TAMARA GILKES BORR US policy correspondent, The Economist bar1 bar2 TAMARA GILKES BORR US policy correspondent, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 05:45 pm -6:00 pm What does it mean to be a good citizen in the metaverse? Tamara Gilkes Borr is the US policy correspondent of The Economist. She previously worked as a public school teacher in New York City and as a management consultant focused on public sector and social impact projects. She earned a PhD in education from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University. 6:00 pm -6:30 pm PST PANEL DISCUSSION: IS WEB3 THE SOLUTION TO DOING A BETTER JOB WITH DATA? THE PRACTICALITIES OF RETURNING CONTROL TO CONSUMERS Sponsored by Upland: One of the most fundamental tenets of Web3 is for consumers to regain ownership and control of their data. This means that they will be able to choose if and when information about them can be shared and used or even receive payments for access. But what practical steps do companies need to take in order to comply? Will Web3 restore trust between consumers and brands? * View Profile BERTRAND PEREZ Chief executive, Web3 Foundation bar1 bar2 BERTRAND PEREZ Chief executive, Web3 Foundation October 26th 2022 * 08:30 am -8:45 am How do we empower developers, users and investors to get involved in the metaverse? * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers Bertrand PEREZ is the chief executive of the Web3 Foundation and has 30 years of engineering and technical management experience in payments and telecoms. Bertrand has led geographically dispersed engineering and operations teams of all sizes up to 300-plus staff within large multi-national organizations as well as smaller teams within early stage start-ups. In his last tenure, he was COO at the Diem Association where he initiated the Diem stablecoin project. Prior to his time at Diem, aka Facebook’s Libra project, Bertrand’s previous roles included executive and senior technical management positions leading engineering teams at Paypal and Ericsson, as well as mobile-media start-ups such as Zong and Index Multimedia. Bertrand holds a Masters in computer science. * View Profile DIRK LUETH Co-founder and co-chief executive, Upland bar1 bar2 DIRK LUETH Co-founder and co-chief executive, Upland October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Dirk is a serial entrepreneur and an early adopter of blockchain and related technologies, based in Silicon Valley. In addition to being the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Uplandme, Inc., Dirk co-founded the Open Metaverse Alliance (OMA3) alongside the leaders of Web 3.0 companies. He is the author of the bestselling book, Navigating the Metaverse: A Guide to Limitless Possibilities in a Web 3.0 World (Wiley, 2022). He co-founded European and US-based companies in the FinTech and digital media spaces, including the Financial Times Deutschland and Forbatec which has been acquired by SunGard (today NYSE:FIS). Dirk mentored over 30 startups through his work at international startup accelerators in Silicon Valley and is a frequent speaker/panelist focusing on topics about the metaverse, blockchain, and platform economics. He has studied Business Administration in Frankfurt and Paris and received a Ph.D. from the European Business School in Germany where he wrote his doctoral thesis about private and state-controlled currencies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkLueth Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirklueth/ * View Profile SANDY CARTER Senior vice president and channel chief, Unstoppable Domains bar1 bar2 SANDY CARTER Senior vice president and channel chief, Unstoppable Domains October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers Sandy Carter is senior vice president and channel chief at Unstoppable Domains. In this role, she is responsible for driving new partnerships and integrations for Web 3.0, Blockchain, and NFTs. Her mission is to onboard the world onto the decentralized web by building a digital identity platform. Previously, Sandy was vice-president for public sector partners at AWS. In this role, she was responsible for driving next-generation partnering in cloud, machine learning, IoT and blockchain, growing the ecosystem over 45%. Sandy was a founder and chief executiveof a startup in Silicon Valley. In her last role at IBM, she ran the AI/ML Ecosystem on behalf of the IBM. Sandy is the chairman of the Board of Girls in Tech, and an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley. She is also the author of Extreme Innovation. She is the founder of Unstoppable Women of Web3 (WoW3). Sandy is a Top 100 Chief Tech Leader, Top 14 Edge Leader, Federal 100 Award Winner, member of Fortune Most Powerful Women, CNN Top 10 Most Powerful Women In Technology, Forbes Top Digital Influencer, 2022 Top Channel Chiefs, C-Suite Social Media Legend, Verdicts Top 10 AI & Cloud Computing Influencer, Stevie Award Winner for Women of the Year Technology, 2021 Cloud Rising Visionary Award, Top 50 Influencers in Tech, Top 150 Global Cloud Thought Leaders of 2021, Lifetime Achievement Winner, ‘Excellence in Cloud Achievement’, Forbes AI Innovator Nominee, and Franz Edelman Laureate for Analytics Innovation. MODERATED BY * View Profile ROBERT FINE Executive director, International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association (IVRHA) bar1 bar2 ROBERT FINE Executive director, International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association (IVRHA) October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Robert is the executive director and founder of IVRHA (International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association). In 2009, Robert started Cool Blue Media by organizing the first social media conference on the east coast of the United States, leading to the publication of the text book, “The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories and Perspectives” and shortly thereafter the only printed magazine covering social media, The Social Media Monthly. In May 2016, he launched VRVoice.co, a content vertical exploring virtual reality in the enterprise. In 2017, Robert started the largest annual conference on virtual reality and healthcare with events taking place both in the US and Europe. Prior to 2009, Robert was the Senior Director of Global Strategy and Development of IT at Conservation International (CI). Robert joined CI in 2000 to take responsibility for connecting all of CI’s forty field offices to the Internet with broadband connectivity. During his 10 year tenure, he built an international staff of 25 IT professionals. Robert has over ten years of additional work experience as a systems and sales engineer with various companies including CMGI, Hughes Network Systems, ioWave and Raytheon. Robert has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University, a master’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Johns Hopkins University, and is ABD at George Mason University. 6:00 pm -6:15 pm PST THE SECRETS BEHIND BUILDING A REAL METAVERSE Everybody is talking about it. But what actually is the metaverse and what are going to be the opportunities for businesses and for society. Spoiler alert – it is not just going to be floating around in virtual environments. * View Profile HERMAN NARULA Co-founder and chief executive, Improbable Worlds Limited bar1 bar2 HERMAN NARULA Co-founder and chief executive, Improbable Worlds Limited October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:15 pm The secrets behind building a real metaverse Herman Narula is the co-founder and chief executive of Improbable, a British metaverse technology company. Improbable partners with video game developers, entertainment companies, and defence and academic institutions to enable powerful, virtual worlds of unprecedented size and usefulness. This year, Improbable established M2 (MSquared), a network of interoperable metaverses powered by its Morpheus technology. M2 allows companies, brands and creators to establish their own metaverses and Web3 businesses within its network, organise large-scale experiences with their communities involving thousands of active participants, and provide interoperability with existing blockchains and Web3 businesses. Narula is the author of Virtual Society: The Metaverse and the New Frontiers of Human Experience, published by Penguin Random House on October 11 2022. The book offers an exploration of the metaverse, its ancient origins, and how the exchange of value and ideas within and between virtual worlds will expand the possibilities of human life. Narula draws on deep, cross-disciplinary research in history, sociology and psychology to show readers what the metaverse actually is, why it will matter and why it’s here to stay. 6:15 pm -6:30 pm PST FIRESIDE CHAT: HOW CAN BRANDS BEST INTERACT WITH CONSUMERS IN THE METAVERSE? Brands are constantly evolving the ways they connect with consumers, and digital experiences continue to become increasingly customer-focused. How can brands leverage the metaverse to offer a more engaging or immersive experience? How do brands integrate and establish advertising campaigns in the metaverse? * View Profile ALLYSON WITHERSPOON Vice-president and chief marketing officer, Nissan U.S. bar1 bar2 ALLYSON WITHERSPOON Vice-president and chief marketing officer, Nissan U.S. October 26th 2022 * 06:15 pm -6:30 pm Fireside chat: how can brands best interact with consumers in the metaverse? Allyson Witherspoon is vice president and chief marketing officer, Nissan U.S. She was appointed to this position in November 2020. In this role, Witherspoon is responsible for marketing communications and media, data innovation and customer experience, enhancing brand value, customer trust and insights, and brand and product marketing. Most recently, Witherspoon was vice president, marketing communications and media. She was responsible for marketing communications and media, and model line/product marketing with a focus on revenue growth and profit generation for the Nissan brand and its dealer network. Previously, Witherspoon was general manager, global brand engagement, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., in Yokohama, Japan, where she was responsible for the leadership and implementation of Nissan’s global marketing and investment strategy including creative, media, sponsorship, agency structure and heritage collection. Prior to her role at NML, Witherspoon was the director of marketing communication and media for INFINITI USA, where she was responsible for developing the vision and leading the execution of the brand’s cross-carline marketing strategy. Witherspoon brings 20 years of automotive marketing experience working in a number of senior roles with, and on behalf of, automotive OEMs. Prior to her appointment with Nissan and INFINITI, Witherspoon served as the global business director for Volvo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, adding to her marketing agency experience that included leading accounts for two other automakers. Witherspoon holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2014, Automotive News named Witherspoon as one of the “40 Under 40” for automakers and suppliers. In 2020 she was recognized as a Female Frontier for breaking brand barriers by Campaign US and was also named one of the 100 Leading Women in North American Auto Industry by Automotive News. MODERATED BY * View Profile GUY SCRIVEN US technology correspondent, business affairs, The Economist bar1 bar2 GUY SCRIVEN US technology correspondent, business affairs, The Economist October 26th 2022 * 02:40 pm -2:55 pm Fireside chat: Leadership based upon value cycles vs hype cycles: quantifying the metaverse impact on business * 06:15 pm -6:30 pm Fireside chat: how can brands best interact with consumers in the metaverse? Guy Scriven is The Economist‘s US Technology Editor. Previously he was the climate risk correspondent, writing about the intersection of climate change and business. Before that he was the South-East Asia correspondent, based in Singapore, and worked on the Britain desk. He joined The Economist as a researcher in 2010. He has written for the Britain, Business, International, Europe, Asia and Finance sections. He has a particular interest in data-driven stories. 6:30 pm PST END OF IN-PERSON DAY We are excited to host our virtual day in Virbela – full joining instructions will be provided ahead of time to all registered attendees – no headset required for access. * Full Day * Full Day Full Day 8:30 am -9:00 am EST HOW CAN YOU CREATE METAVERSE CONTENT THAT CAN MAINTAIN UTILITY AND VALUE? How best to extend the life of a digital asset? To what extent will consumers demand a real-life physical component? * View Profile DR. KRISTOPHER ALEXANDER Professor of video game design, virtual production and e-sports broadcasting, Toronto Metropolitan University bar1 bar2 DR. KRISTOPHER ALEXANDER Professor of video game design, virtual production and e-sports broadcasting, Toronto Metropolitan University October 27th 2022 * 08:30 am -9:00 am How can you create metaverse content that can maintain utility and value? Dr. Kris Alexander, the professor of video games, is a two-time globally ranked player turned scholar, and game developer. His work focuses on video game design, virtual production, and collegiate esports infrastructure. Currently the Director of The Red Bull Gaming Hub a training facility at Toronto Metropolitan University focused on esports broadcasting, virtual production, and video game design, Dr. Alexander has also completed academic video essays with Wisecrack, a YouTube channel with over 3 million subscribers, done educational work with Epic Games, the Canada Media Fund, worked on esports in academia with Red Bull, Team Liquid, and even transformed into an animated bear live on Breakfast Television while talking about the metaverse. He is Canada’s academic expert guide to the nuanced nature of video games that extend beyond the playing of games. 9:00 am -9:20 am EST HOW CAN WE USE METAVERSE TOOLS TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE? Breaking down barriers to progress for a better world with digital assistive technologies. What’s available today and where are we headed? How can DAOs make democracy better? * View Profile MARY SPIO Founder and chief executive, CEEK VR bar1 bar2 MARY SPIO Founder and chief executive, CEEK VR October 27th 2022 * 09:00 am -9:20 am How can we use metaverse tools to make the world more equitable and inclusive? 9:20 am -9:45 am EST AUTOMATION, TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY * View Profile ANDREW YANG Founder, Forward Party bar1 bar2 ANDREW YANG Founder, Forward Party October 27th 2022 * 09:20 am -9:45 am Automation, technology and democracy Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and former 2020 presidential candidate. After working as a lawyer and executive at several early-stage technology companies, Andrew eventually became CEO of an education company that became #1 in the country. He then started a national entrepreneurship non-profit, Venture for America, which worked to empower thousands of young entrepreneurs to bring their dynamism to communities across the country, from New Orleans and Baltimore to Denver and Detroit. Andrew was named a Presidential Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the White House under the Obama administration and a Champion of Change for his work with Venture for America. Initially dubbed a “longer than long shot” candidate by the New York Times in 2018, Andrew became a top-tier contender for the presidency, raising nearly $40 million in grassroots funding. With a vision to rewrite the rules of the United States economy through a “Freedom Dividend” of $1,000 a month for every American adult, Andrew became one of the most exciting stories in the 2020 race. Andrew’s nationwide support, known as the “Yang Gang,” propelled him to seven Democratic primary debates, outlasting six senators, four governors, three members of congress, two mayors, and one secretary. Following this unexpected run for president, Andrew formed the non-profit Humanity Forward, successfully lobbying Congress for direct cash relief for struggling American families during the pandemic while simultaneously distributing over $8 million directly to struggling families. From his presidential and New York mayoral runs, Andrew has seen first-hand what’s preventing our country from getting things done, and he is now directing his energies towards fixing the machinery of our stagnant democracy. With Forward – Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, Andrew lays out the case for a variety of democracy reform measures that can unclog the pipes of our system and realign the incentives of legislators with the wellbeing of the American people. 9:45 am -10:00 am EST BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND THE INDUSTRIAL METAVERSE * View Profile ANDREAS KIND Head of cybersecurity technology and lead of CCT Blockchain, Siemens bar1 bar2 ANDREAS KIND Head of cybersecurity technology and lead of CCT Blockchain, Siemens October 27th 2022 * 09:45 am -10:00 am Blockchain technology and the industrial metaverse 10:00 am -10:45 am EST PANEL DISCUSSION: CRYPTO AS THE GATEWAY DRUG TO THE METAVERSE: HOW MUCH OF A ROLE WILL NFTS PLAY? WILL EVERYTHING BECOME AN NFT? Sponsored by EY: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the irrefutable records of digital ownership stored on the blockchain, will play a major role at the nexus of the metaverse economy. But where is there the greatest value in their application and how can artists best take advantage? How do we mitigate risk? * View Profile SHUBHRA KATHURIA Metaverse and web3 leader, EY wavespace bar1 bar2 SHUBHRA KATHURIA Metaverse and web3 leader, EY wavespace October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? Shubhra leads Metaverse and NFT services at EY wavespace. She has been working with major brands to push the boundaries of how we will shop, learn, play, work, and interact in this next evolution of the web. She helps businesses across the globe transition to, and utilize the full potential of Metaverse and NFTs. She focuses on bringing together diverse minds, new technologies and business models, creating innovations that move businesses forward. * View Profile AVERY AKKINENI President, Vayner3 bar1 bar2 AVERY AKKINENI President, Vayner3 October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? President of Vayner3, Avery Akkineni, is leading the mission to guide the world’s largest enterprises and intellectual property owners in navigating the next iteration of consumer behavior, Web3. In July 2021, Akkineni launched the VaynerX consultancy, Vayner3 (previously known as VaynerNFT), alongside serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. In less than twelve months, Akkineni successfully led the expansion of the consultancy to 50+ global Web3 experts in a remote-first environment. Partnering with dozens of Fortune 500 corporations across industries, Vayner3 has successfully advised organizations on strategic Web3 initiatives across cryptocurrency applications, NFT program development, and immersive digital experiences. A leader, mentor, and investor in pioneering Web3 projects and communities, Akkineni is also an active advisor for several tech platforms; serving on the Board of Advisors of OneOf and Tracer, on the Web3 Advisory Board for Salesforce, Meta Creative X, and Facebook’s Metaverse Council, in addition to being a founding BFF member. Akkineni has appeared as a featured keynote speaker at global events including Cannes Lions, SXSW, Consensus, Permissionless, VeeCon, IAB, C2, and others. In addition, she is frequently featured in publications across the business (WSJ, CNBC, Forbes), advertising (AdAge, The Drum, Campaign), and crypto industries (Decrypt, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph), sharing her knowledge from inside the burgeoning space. Before the launch of Vayner3, Avery spearheaded VaynerMedia’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, building a team of 150 people and opening VaynerMedia offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Sydney, while securing 2021 Independent Agency of the Year (Gold) within two years. Additionally, Avery has been honored on the “Woman to Watch” by Campaign, on “NFT100” by NFTNow, and on “30 Under 30” by The Drum. Before VaynerX, Avery spent her early career at Google in Silicon Valley, while she now resides in Miami, FL. * View Profile KEVIN WERBACH Professor of legal studies and business ethics, Wharton University of Pennsylvania bar1 bar2 KEVIN WERBACH Professor of legal studies and business ethics, Wharton University of Pennsylvania October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? Kevin Werbach is the Liem Sioe Liong / First Pacific Company Professor, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, and department chair at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. A world-renowned expert on emerging technologies, he examines business and policy implications of developments such as AI, algorithmic regulation, gamification, and blockchain. Werbach served on the Obama Administration’s Presidential Transition Team, helped develop the U.S. approach to internet policy as Counsel for New Technology Policy at the FCC during the Clinton Administration, and created one of the most successful massive open online courses, with over 500,000 enrollments. He directs the Wharton Blockchain and Digital Asset Project. His books, which have been translated into six languages, include The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust (2018), For the Win (2012; updated 2020), and After the Digital Tornado (2020). Follow him on Twitter @kwerb * View Profile JAMIE BARTLETT Author of ‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’ and ‘The Dark Net’ bar1 bar2 JAMIE BARTLETT Author of ‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’ and ‘The Dark Net’ October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? Jamie Bartlett is a technology writer specialising in internet culture and criminality. He is the author of the best selling book The Dark Net (2014) and The People Vs Tech (2018). He is also the writer and presenter of the BBC podcast series – and book – The Missing Cryptoqueen about a multi-billion dollar ponzi scheme. * View Profile RONIT GHOSE Global head of future of finance, Citi bar1 bar2 RONIT GHOSE Global head of future of finance, Citi October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? Ronit Ghose is Global Head of Citi’s Future of Finance team. He is the lead author of Citi’s Fintech GPS series – the first edition has had circa 350,000 downloads making it the most read report ever published by Citi, and one of the most read FinTech reports ever published. Ronit joined Citi in 1997 as an equity analyst in London. Ronit was Global Sector Head for Banks (from 2009) and Co-Head of the FinTech Group for Citi Research before moving into his current role in 2021. He has been based in Dubai since 2016. Prior to joining Citi, Ronit has also worked at the British Bankers’ Association and as a research assistant in Parliament for a former UK Prime Minister. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford and a postgraduate diploma from University of London. Ronit is an advisory board member of several technology start-ups and funds in Africa, the Middle East and the UK. MODERATED BY * View Profile DR. KRISTOPHER ALEXANDER Professor of video game design, virtual production and e-sports broadcasting, Toronto Metropolitan University bar1 bar2 DR. KRISTOPHER ALEXANDER Professor of video game design, virtual production and e-sports broadcasting, Toronto Metropolitan University October 27th 2022 * 10:00 am -10:45 am Panel discussion: crypto as the gateway drug to the metaverse: how much of a role will NFTs play? Will everything become an NFT? Dr. Kris Alexander, the professor of video games, is a two-time globally ranked player turned scholar, and game developer. His work focuses on video game design, virtual production, and collegiate esports infrastructure. Currently the Director of The Red Bull Gaming Hub a training facility at Toronto Metropolitan University focused on esports broadcasting, virtual production, and video game design, Dr. Alexander has also completed academic video essays with Wisecrack, a YouTube channel with over 3 million subscribers, done educational work with Epic Games, the Canada Media Fund, worked on esports in academia with Red Bull, Team Liquid, and even transformed into an animated bear live on Breakfast Television while talking about the metaverse. He is Canada’s academic expert guide to the nuanced nature of video games that extend beyond the playing of games. 10:45 am -11:00 am EST WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE BLOCKCHAIN-BASED TRANSACTION FRAUD? WHAT ROLE WILL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PLAY IN CRYPTO AND HOW WILL TRANSACTIONS BE REGULATED? Can we make blockchain fraud-proof? Who will own the backend payment systems? Is crypto a threat or opportunity for financial institutions? * View Profile OMAR BIN SULTAN AL OLAMA Minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications, United Arab Emirates bar1 bar2 OMAR BIN SULTAN AL OLAMA Minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications, United Arab Emirates October 27th 2022 * 10:45 am -11:00 am What is the best way to tackle blockchain-based transaction fraud? What role will financial institutions play in crypto and how will transactions be regulated? His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama has been appointed as Minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications since July 2020. Mr. Al Olama has joined the Federal Government in 2017 as Minister of state for artificial intelligence, where he was responsible for enhancing the government performance by investing the latest technologies and tools of artificial intelligence and applying them in various sectors. He is currently the managing director of the World Government Summit in the Prime minister’s office at the Ministry of cabinet affairs. He has been working as the deputy director of the future department at the Ministry of cabinet affairs. He contributed to the preparation of the UAE Centennial 2071 strategy and the UAE 4th Industrial Revolution Strategy. His Excellency Mr Al Olama holds a diploma in project management and excellence from the American University of Sharjah and a bachelor of business administration from the American University of Dubai. 11:00 am -11:15 am EST MARKETING IN A MULTI SENSORY WORLD * View Profile RAJA RAJAMANNAR Chief marketing & communications officer and president, Healthcare, Mastercard bar1 bar2 RAJA RAJAMANNAR Chief marketing & communications officer and president, Healthcare, Mastercard October 27th 2022 * 11:00 am -11:15 am Marketing in a multi sensory world 11:15 am -11:45 am EST NETWORKING BREAK 11:45 am -12:00 pm PST DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS DRIVING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. HOW CAN BRANDS CREATIVELY UTILISE TECHNOLOGY AND THE METAVERSE TO ENABLE BUSINESS GROWTH? Technology continues to redefine what’s possible for businesses, unlocking growth and a deeper connection to the consumer through insights and analytics, intuitive e-commerce platforms, and more. With an increased focus on omnipresent engagement, brands are looking to digitally transform and seek new avenues to connect with consumers in both creative and meaningful ways. Technology is opening many of these doors, and the emerging metaverse is a perfect example of a platform that is evolving how we socialise, create immersive entertainments, and fuel greater inclusivity by enabling a more creative, fluid form of self-expressionism. * View Profile ANN MUKHERJEE Chairman and chief executive, Pernod Ricard North America bar1 bar2 ANN MUKHERJEE Chairman and chief executive, Pernod Ricard North America October 27th 2022 * 11:45 am -12:00 pm Digital transformation is driving the customer experience. How can brands creatively utilise technology and the metaverse to enable business growth? Ann Mukherjee joined PRNA as chairman & chief executive in December 2019. The first industry outsider and woman of color to assume the position, Ann is laser-focused on delivering both ROI and ROR (return on responsibility). She has artfully advanced the business through ambiguity, driving a transformation rooted in the science of predictable consumer demand and guiding PRNA to record-breaking profits in 2021. At the same time, she has launched award-winning brand campaigns and initiatives that spark consumer engagement on topics such as consent, voting, hate speech, and diversity and inclusion. Ann joined Pernod Ricard from S.C. Johnson and Company, where she broke ground as their first-ever global chief marketing officer and, later, global chief commercial officer. She spent more than a decade in leadership roles at PepsiCo and Frito-Lay, and began her marketing career at Kraft Foods Group. Ann graduated with two bachelor’s degrees and a MBA from the University of Chicago. Ann has been recognized with numerous awards throughout her 30-year career, including Forbes’ Top 50 Most Influential CMOs; Brand Week’s Marketer of the Year; and ADCOLOR’s Legend Award. In spring 2022, she was inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Hall of Fame. 12:00 pm -12:15 pm EST FIRESIDE CHAT: HOW SAMSUNG IS BUILDING POWERFUL BRAND EXPERIENCES IN THE METAVERSE The metaverse economy is expected to be worth $13 trillion by 2030. As this virtual space continues to grow and evolve, brands are still learning how they can extend the omnichannel experience to include it. But will this Web 3.0 environment really live up to its promise as an essential customer touchpoint and how can brands create immersive, engaging experiences that authentically connect with consumers? On the heels of several metaverse launches and activations in Decentraland, Roblox, and Discord, hear from Samsung Electronics America CMO Michelle Crossan-Matos on how the experience-minded brand – which was the first consumer tech brand to enter the space – is harnessing this virtual realm to power consumer education, exploration, and connection in new and exciting ways. * View Profile MICHELLE CROSSAN-MATOS Chief marketing officer, Samsung Electronics America bar1 bar2 MICHELLE CROSSAN-MATOS Chief marketing officer, Samsung Electronics America October 27th 2022 * 12:00 pm -12:15 pm Fireside chat: how Samsung is building powerful brand experiences in the metaverse Michelle Crossan-Matos is the chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America. In this role, she is responsible for leading the Company’s U.S. consumer and B2B marketing strategy, positioning Samsung as a global leader in technology and helping to drive profitable revenue growth. As the chief storyteller, Michelle evangelizes Samsung innovations, its strategic pillars — Sustainability, Connectivity, and Customization, and is leading the charge in creating new brand experiences in the metaverse. As a women in tech, she’s passionate about empowering diverse individuals to achieve their version of success and serves as an executive sponsor of Samsung’s Women+ in Samsung and Galaxy of Black Professionals ERGs. With more than 20 years of expertise in propelling billion-dollar brands forward by innovating business models, Michelle has led multifaceted organizations and managed large business franchises across the globe. Prior to her CMO position, she was senior vice president of corporate strategy, Innovation & Transformation at Samsung, where she oversaw overall corporate strategy, innovation, transformation, and new business incubation. Before Samsung, she served as CMO for Vertu, a British manufacturer and retailer of luxury mobile phones, and held global and regional brand leadership roles at Proctor & Gamble. Throughout her career, Michelle has worked across a variety of business cultures, geographies, and industry sectors, such as Technology, Consumer Electronics, Private Equity, Luxury, Beauty, and FMCG, leading brand strategy and marketing offices. She has learned the critical value of creating high-performance business models, guiding large-scale transformation, building strong marketing fundamentals, developing talent, and mapping out brand purpose, all whilst managing complex businesses. An Adweek CMO Awards recipient and a Campaign US CMO 50 honoree, Michelle is a captivating speaker and has spoken at marquee events, including Cannes Lions, CES, Advertising Week, Adweek Mediaweek, The Female Quotient’s Equality Lounge, among others. Michelle is British, married with two children, and splits her time between Puerto Rico and New Jersey. MODERATED BY * View Profile KEITH SOLJACICH Head of innovation, Publicis Media bar1 bar2 KEITH SOLJACICH Head of innovation, Publicis Media October 27th 2022 * 12:00 pm -12:15 pm Fireside chat: how Samsung is building powerful brand experiences in the metaverse As head of innovation at Publicis Media, Keith leads the strategic integration of emerging technologies & platforms that power transformative brand experiences across Publicis Media agencies. In his 20+ years of experience in advertising and media, he has partnered with brands like AMEX, MolsonCoors, Samsung, Disney and PlayStation to create first-to-market digital experiences with a uniquely innovative approach. Keith lives on the bleeding edge of consumer and technology trends and translates them into high-impact consumer moments. His work has been honored with awards from Cannes Lions, Effies, OneShow and SXSW. He is a featured keynote speaker, writer & panelist and a member of the board of directors for the IAB Experience Center, and an avid member of some of the biggest Web3 communities in the metaverse like the Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, RTFKT and World of Women. 12:15 pm -12:30 pm EST MAKING THE METAVERSE MORE HUMAN: WHY DIGITAL HUMANISM HOLDS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING VALUE In this nascent phase of its evolution, organisations are still trying to figure out what people want from the metaverse. Some will be looking for a more advanced form of escapism – Instagram on steroids, if you will. But NEOM’s vision of the metaverse is not a place to get lost, but rather a place to be found. It’s an opportunity to extend the human experience without losing the very essence of what it is that makes us human – a chance to interact and connect with people, to build communities and to live immersive experiences that have genuine emotional value. * View Profile BEVERLY RIDER Chief commercial officer, NEOM Tech & Digital Company bar1 bar2 BEVERLY RIDER Chief commercial officer, NEOM Tech & Digital Company October 27th 2022 * 12:15 pm -12:30 pm Making the metaverse more human: Why digital humanism holds the key to unlocking value Beverly Rider is Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Solutions of Delivery at NEOM Tech & Digital Co., the world’s leading cognitive technology company. A leader with diverse global exposure to digital industrial solutions, including the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities and cloud technologies, Rider is tasked with building a world-class Commercial Organization, including Sales & Channel, Ventures, Comms & Marketing, Solutions & Delivery Organization and NEOM Sector Engagement, within NEOM Tech & Digital Co. Rider’s work will enable the successful development and execution of more than 500+ NEOM Tech & Digital Co. programs, which in the near term will require the creation of global partnerships to provide scale for NEOM’s development. She brings an extraordinary breadth and depth of experience and insights to her role at NEOM Tech & Digital Co. That expertise comes from having served in the Csuite at several Fortune 10 companies, including roles as Chief Commercial Officer at Hitachi Limited (Japan), Chief Commercial Officer at General Electric (US) and Senior Vice President and Head of IoT at Ericsson (Sweden). She also brings extensive commercial, business and legal experience from having served as CEO at C-level Consulting – an IoT and M2M solutions start-up and as an Executive for CenturyLink/Qwest/US West for 12 years, as well as, work as an attorney. Rider has degrees in Marketing, Finance, Law and Taxation. She graduated JD Cum Laude from the Seattle University School of Law and attending the University of Washington LLM Program. 12:30 pm -1:15 pm EST PANEL DISCUSSION — MONETISATION OF THE METAVERSE: WHO IS MAKING MONEY TODAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF CREATORS, CORPORATES AND COMMUNITY? Sponsored by Upland: What are the least-understood aspects of how companies and consumers can benefit from the metaverse? What is the killer application for the metaverse? Is it gaming? Education? Collaboration? Health and wellness? What makes for a good metaverse experience? What are the metrics for measuring success? * View Profile SPIKE LAURIE Partner, Hiro Capital bar1 bar2 SPIKE LAURIE Partner, Hiro Capital October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Spike is a professional investor and games industry veteran with experience building esports production and business infrastructure across three continents. Spike is a partner at Hiro Capital where he leads the fund’s game studio, games technology and esports investments. Hiro Capital is a London / Luxembourg technology Venture Capital fund which invests in UK, US and European innovators in Games, Metaverse Technology, Esports and Digital Fitness. Hiro Capital generally invests at the post-seed Series A and B stages. We invest both in front-end Content creators in Games, Esports and Digital Sports and in deep tech Metaverse applications of Cloud, Mobile, Streaming, Big Data, AI, Wearables, AR and VR technologies. * View Profile JAMIE BURKE Founder and chief executive, Outlier Ventures bar1 bar2 JAMIE BURKE Founder and chief executive, Outlier Ventures October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Jamie Burke is the founder and chief executive of Outlier Ventures, founded in 2014, and now the world’s leading accelerator dedicated to Web3 and the Open Metaverse where they explore the convergence of Finance, Media & Technology. With a growing portfolio of 100+ startups and several multi-billion token economies. Jamie is a passionate advocate for the sovereignty of the individual, their data and wealth over platforms and the power of blockchains to enable ‘fluid collectivism’ and host of Metaverse Podcast. * View Profile ALISSA AULBEKOVA Co-founder and creative director, Auroboros bar1 bar2 ALISSA AULBEKOVA Co-founder and creative director, Auroboros October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Alissa Aulbekova is the founder and visionary of the digital-native luxury fashion house Auroboros. Together with Paula Sello, the duo specialises in couture, creative direction and creative technologies with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. Named on the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2022: Art & Culture List alongside receiving various international awards previously, the duo has lectured and spoken at Harvard Business School, Christie’s, Central Saint Martins, BoF Voices, WWD and Fashion Revolution. * View Profile HUGH HOU Co-founder and creative director, CreatorUp! bar1 bar2 HUGH HOU Co-founder and creative director, CreatorUp! October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Hugh Hou is co-founder and creative director of CreatorUp, and is an impact creator with more than quarter-million professional followers who learn Metaverse filmmaking from him. He heads up immersive media content creation at CreatorUp and has produced VR content for numerous companies and organizations such as Meta, Samsung, Canon, the Olympics, the Special Olympics, Google, MasterCard, Twitter, TikTok, RedBull Music, CBS, LACOSTE, Huawei, and the Los Angeles Police Department. Hugh has left his creative mark on mixed reality videos including musical projects such as I Prevail, Joyner Lucas, Cypress Hill, Moneybagg yo, SHAED, Anjunabeats, Kristina Sky, and Cosmic Gate. His original VR productions have been featured on Top Gear, Newsweek, LAD Bible, and other major publications. Hugh’s VR videos were listed among the Top 15 VR Videos of the Year 2-year in a row by Forbes magazine. When not producing original VR videos & films, Hugh dedicates his time to sharing his vast expertise in immersive technologies and VR filmmaking on his YouTube channel (HughHouFilm). He truly believes that by sharing freely with the world through YouTube, mentoring, and consulting, more creators will join the immersive media family. Hugh’s goal is to help the XR industry thrive and to improve the quality of VR filmmaking in the Metaverse – to bring more reality into Virtual Reality. * View Profile DIRK LUETH Co-founder and co-chief executive, Upland bar1 bar2 DIRK LUETH Co-founder and co-chief executive, Upland October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? Dirk is a serial entrepreneur and an early adopter of blockchain and related technologies, based in Silicon Valley. In addition to being the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Uplandme, Inc., Dirk co-founded the Open Metaverse Alliance (OMA3) alongside the leaders of Web 3.0 companies. He is the author of the bestselling book, Navigating the Metaverse: A Guide to Limitless Possibilities in a Web 3.0 World (Wiley, 2022). He co-founded European and US-based companies in the FinTech and digital media spaces, including the Financial Times Deutschland and Forbatec which has been acquired by SunGard (today NYSE:FIS). Dirk mentored over 30 startups through his work at international startup accelerators in Silicon Valley and is a frequent speaker/panelist focusing on topics about the metaverse, blockchain, and platform economics. He has studied Business Administration in Frankfurt and Paris and received a Ph.D. from the European Business School in Germany where he wrote his doctoral thesis about private and state-controlled currencies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkLueth Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirklueth/ MODERATED BY * View Profile WALTER PASQUARELLI Manager, tech and society, Economist Impact bar1 bar2 WALTER PASQUARELLI Manager, tech and society, Economist Impact October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? * 06:25 pm -6:40 pm Do you need to hire a “Head of Metaverse”? If yes, how to write the job description? Walter Pasquarelli is a manager in the tech and society team at Economist Impact, where he delivers research and engagement programmes that use evidence and data to drive change on tech policy issues. He was previously AI policy lead at an international consultancy, where he advised governments and tech companies on AI benchmarking and strategy. As part of this he also worked as a consultant with the Open Data Institute on enabling data-sharing across different sectors. Mr Pasquarelli is an AI policy fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath. 1:15 pm -1:45 pm EST PANEL DISCUSSION: FLIPPING FUNDRAISING ON ITS HEAD: HOW CAN WEB3 CREATE REAL SOCIAL IMPACT? Is Web3 making it easier to fundraise globally? What are the community benefits of fundraising on the blockchain? What have been some of the most successful social impact DAOs thus far and what can we learn from them? Do DAOs solve our problems or simply introduce new ones? * View Profile JEM Platinum recording artist and chief executive, Sonic Zoo bar1 bar2 JEM Platinum recording artist and chief executive, Sonic Zoo October 27th 2022 * 01:15 pm -1:45 pm Panel discussion: flipping fundraising on its head: how can Web3 create real social impact? Welsh-born Jem obtained a law degree while DJing and pioneering Brighton’s early Drum ’n’ Bass scene. Learning to navigate a bedroom-studio, she ran a breakbeat record label before assisting at the acclaimed club night which launched the DJ career of Fatboy Slim. Her earliest break came co-writing ‘Nothing Fails’ for Madonna’s American Life album. Later dropping her self-made demo at the door of KCRW, LA’s revered radio station, it quickly became the Number1 most requested song by listeners. Jem’s platinum debut, Finally Woken (featuring ubiquitous song ‘They’) has sold more than a million copies worldwide, the artist and producer has amassed several million views on YouTube, and her music rings out daily in stores and coffee shops around the globe. Her songs have been featured in numerous films, trailers and TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Orange Is the New Black, Sex and the City The Movie, Damages, Desperate Housewives, Six Feet Under, Dancing With the Stars, Celebrity Love Island, Gossip Girl and The OC, and in commercials for leading global brands including Lexus, Fiat, Pantene, Sephora, Amazon and more. The Welsh songstress has played live stadium shows supporting Dave Matthews Band and sharing billing with Kanye West, The Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, the Pixies, P!nk and Ray LaMontagne, to name just a few. Her music has been covered in Cantonese and Mandarin by Chinese actor and pop star Karen Mok, Taiwan’s critically acclaimed Jolin Tsai, and Hong Kong Cantopop duo Twins. Jem produced and personally cleared all the music for the official 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Album with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and Mayor Bloomberg, featuring some of the world’s biggest artists, including Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, John Legend, Alanis Morissette, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, Dido, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Tori Amos, Cindy Lauper, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews, Nina Simone and others. Also a screenwriter, director and entrepreneur, Jem’s creating and producing film & TV, as well as assisting brands and artists authentically navigate the NFT/Web 3 space with her branding, marketing and production company SonicZoo.io – Partnerships with The Flower Girls NFT and Staxx Invaders. Jem and Sonic Zoo recently launched ‘Inspired By’ an exclusive Music + Art NFT Series, curating incredible visual NFT artists and pairing them with amazing musicians to create special l/l’s inspired by the music. Vol. l premiered Jem’s song ‘RAINBOW’ with accompanying artworks by Varvara Alay, Aslan Ruby, Gabe Weis and Rik Lee along with charity partner RxArt.net * View Profile ALLYSON DOWNEY Co-founder, Meta Angels bar1 bar2 ALLYSON DOWNEY Co-founder, Meta Angels October 27th 2022 * 01:15 pm -1:45 pm Panel discussion: flipping fundraising on its head: how can Web3 create real social impact? Allyson Downey is a serial entrepreneur, MBA, writer, and keynote speaker who has built a career on the power of trusted advice. She is the co-founder of Meta Angels, an NFT community harnessing metaverse relationships to unlock real life impact. Meta Angels has built first-of-its-kind NFT-lending technology into its smart contract, ensuring that the community remains accessible to the people who can most benefit from it. Allyson also is a co-founder of Angel Labs, a web3 accelerator focused on supporting experienced operators and web3 creators in building NFT-enabled companies. She is the founder and chief executive of Stellar Reviews, which helps brands increase sales by 40% by building an authentic, honest base of consumer reviews for their product launches. Allyson is the author of Here’s the Plan: Your Practical, Tactical Guide to Advancing Your Career During Pregnancy and Parenthood. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Time, Fortune, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and others, and she has appeared on ABC World News Now, Power Pitch on CNBC, and other outlets. She is a Techstars alumna and mentor, serving on the boards The Crafters Box and Tot Squad and as an advisor to Trust & Will. She holds a BA from Colby College, an MFA from Columbia University, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. * View Profile GEENA DUNNE Founder, Honey Badges NFT bar1 bar2 GEENA DUNNE Founder, Honey Badges NFT October 27th 2022 * 01:15 pm -1:45 pm Panel discussion: flipping fundraising on its head: how can Web3 create real social impact? Geena Dunne (G.D Anderson) is the founder of Honey Badges NFT, Philanthrop3 and chief executive of Australian charity, The Cova Project. Bridging the worlds of Web3 and philanthropy, Geena has a passion for exploring blockchain technology to create more effective models for the charity world and energise grassroots social impact. An active community builder with a passion for creating global networks with shared goals, Geena looks to merge tech and impact at every possible opportunity. MODERATED BY * View Profile MALIHA ABIDI Founder, WomenRise NFT bar1 bar2 MALIHA ABIDI Founder, WomenRise NFT October 27th 2022 * 01:15 pm -1:45 pm Panel discussion: flipping fundraising on its head: how can Web3 create real social impact? Maliha Abidi is a Pakistani-American published author and visual artist. Her work focuses on advocating for social justice including women’s rights, gender equality, girls’ education and sharing stories from marginalised communities. Maliha has been sharing stories of incredible women through her art and illustrated books for over 8 years and in November 2021 she launched Women Rise, an art focused NFT project that aims to continue this advocacy in the Web 3.0 space. Maliha has worked with organisations including the UN, Global Goals, Malala Fund, Adobe and Google. Her work has featured on various media platforms such as The New York Times, Good Morning America, BBC and TRT World and she has represented Women Rise at panels including VeeCon and SXSW. 1:45 pm -2:00 pm EST WHAT A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING: TO WHAT EXTENT IS “PLAY-TO-EARN” A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER PROSPERITY? How lucrative are play-to-earn games and what are the risks? How many people across the world have been lifted out of poverty by working jobs within the metaverse? Are there effective ways for those who rely upon play-to-earn to insulate against crypto volatility? * View Profile YAT SIU Co-founder and executive chairman, Animoca Brands bar1 bar2 YAT SIU Co-founder and executive chairman, Animoca Brands October 27th 2022 * 01:45 pm -2:00 pm What a way to make a living: to what extent is “play-to-earn” a golden opportunity for greater prosperity? A veteran technology entrepreneur/investor based in Hong Kong, Yat Siu is the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, a global leader in blockchain and gaming with the mission to deliver digital property rights to the world’s gamers and Internet users, thereby creating a new asset class, play-to-earn economies, and a more equitable digital framework contributing to the building of the open metaverse. Yat began his career at Atari Germany in 1990. In 1995 he moved to Hong Kong to establish Hong Kong Cybercity/Freenation, the first free web page and email provider in Asia. In 1998 he set up Outblaze, an award-winning pioneer of multilingual white label web services. In 2009, he sold Outblaze’s messaging unit to IBM and pivoted Outblaze to become an incubator of projects and companies to develop digital entertainment services and products. One of those incubated companies is Animoca Brands, which was created in 2014. In 2017 he set up the Dalton Learning Lab, an afterschool digital lab for skills not emphasized by most education systems, including divergent thinking and design thinking. He is the founder of ThinkBlaze, the research arm of Outblaze investigating socially meaningful issues in technology. Since 2018, Yat has been an early advocate for the use of blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the gaming industry, which will allow gamers to enjoy true ownership of their own game assets, data, and, consequently, equity. With a clear vision of the potential of decentralized apps and assets, Yat quickly steered Animoca Brands to a leadership position in blockchain, gaming, NFTs, and the open metaverse. Recently valued at $5.8 billion, Animoca Brands operates a series of NFT-centric subsidiaries and products, and has invested in over 170 blockchain-related companies to build one of the largest blockchain portfolios in the world. Yat has earned numerous accolades including Global Leader of Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum, Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the DHL/SCMP Awards, and recognition as one of the Cointelegraph top 100 notable people in blockchain. A classically trained musician, Yat is a member of the advisory board of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and a director of the Asian Youth Orchestra. 2:05 pm -2:30 pm EST LUNCH BREAK 2:30 pm -3:10 pm EST DEBATE — THE METAPRISE: ARE WE ALL METAVERSE COMPANIES NOW? WHAT COMPANIES WILL THRIVE IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT? Sponsored by Cognizant: How should organisations prepare for the metaverse today? Where and how should they invest? Figuring out the financial model of digital and fiat currencies and building a talent pipeline for Web3. How will Web3 change data privacy? How does the metaverse impact remote work and collaboration and how can it break organisational silos? * View Profile DUNCAN ROBERTS Senior manager, Cognizant Research bar1 bar2 DUNCAN ROBERTS Senior manager, Cognizant Research October 26th 2022 * 12:55 pm -1:10 pm A pragmatist's guide to the metaverse: how do you eat an elephant? October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Duncan Roberts is a senior manager in Cognizant Research. He joined the company in 2019 as a digital strategy and transformation consultant in industries ranging from satellite communications to educational assessment. He has advised clients on utilising technology to meet strategic objectives and discover the art of the possible through innovation. In 2015, he started developing applications for emerging Virtual and Augmented Reality hardware, working directly with large companies to create new experiences for their customers. He has also advised small startups on using Blockchain solutions for advertising within VR and AR. More recently, Duncan turned his passion for closing the gap between innovation and business opportunity into industry-leading research about the metaverse’s impacts on consumers and employees. Before Cognizant, Duncan worked for one of the largest publishing houses in Europe, playing a leading role in the digital publishing revolution, helping transform their operations end to end and launching new innovative products. He holds a Masters in Philosophy and Classics from the University of St. Andrews. * View Profile IOANA MATEI Head of emerging/immersive technologies, Procter & Gamble bar1 bar2 IOANA MATEI Head of emerging/immersive technologies, Procter & Gamble October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Ioana Matei is the immersive technologies leader for Procter & Gamble and has more than 15 years’ experience working in IT for P&G. In the past 6 years, Ioana has been focusing on building immersive technologies (VR and AR) services for enterprise from shopper packaging research, retailers virtual store visits to brand engagement on new story telling. Ioana is also a professional film maker and VR experience creator. She has written, directed two short films, produced one feature film and she is involved in the production of several VR experiences. She has co-founded Women in Immersive Technologies Europe with the mission to support women in this new emerging industry and she is running the Virtual Reality section of the Fine Arts Film Festival in Los Angeles. * View Profile SEBASTIAN FAHEY Managing director, EMEA and executive lead, Metaverse, Sotheby’s bar1 bar2 SEBASTIAN FAHEY Managing director, EMEA and executive lead, Metaverse, Sotheby’s October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Appointed Managing Director of Sotheby’s EMEA in late 2019, Sebastian is responsible for the company’s business in Europe, the Middle East, Russia, India and Africa. In early 2021, he was charged with the role of Executive Lead for the newly established Sotheby’s NFT department, thanks to his avid interest in and passion for the subject. Sebastian has since presided over Sotheby’s inaugural NFT sales, including the sale of the source code for the World Wide Web, and Sotheby’s ground-breaking Natively Digital sales. Prior to his current appointment, Sebastian lived in Hong Kong between 2015 and 2019, where he served as Commercial Director, Asia, before assuming the role of Managing Director – Business, Asia in 2018. In this role he was responsible for leading the Company’s business director team, providing high value and complex transaction support, facilitating private sales, as well as overseeing the specialist departments of Modern Asian Art, Contemporary Art, Southeast Asian Art and Sotheby’s Gallery. Prior to moving to Hong Kong, Sebastian was originally based in London as Senior Director of Auction Deals for Sotheby’s Europe and before this, Head of Sotheby’s Financial Services, Europe and Asia. By offering customised loans both for property consigned for sale and term loans secured against the value of a collection, Sebastian helped Sotheby’s global clients put their art collections and other valuable assets to work. Sebastian joined Sotheby’s in 2004 after having graduated from the London School of Economics. * View Profile SEBASTIAN BRAUER Senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0, Crate & Barrel bar1 bar2 SEBASTIAN BRAUER Senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0, Crate & Barrel October 26th 2022 * 02:10 pm -2:25 pm Fireside chat: how organisations and brands can engage new audiences with new and innovative business models October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Sebastian Brauer is a creative innovator and retail leader at the intersection of art & design, culture, commerce and technology. Through his 12 year career in retail he has contributed to building brands, multi billion dollar global businesses and teams powered by authenticity, sustainability, social impact, design, collaboration and purpose driven leadership. Born in Quito, Ecuador, Sebastian studied art and industrial design in Milan and Philadelphia before working as a designer for Anthropologie. Inspired to connect more deeply with social activism and artisan production, he left his post to work independently as a fashion and home design consultant- conceptualizing, sourcing and executing product lines for retailers by connecting brands with responsible artisan makers to increase positive socio-economic impact across communities around the globe. He then went on to join the Williams Sonoma group as the Director of Visual Merchandising for West Elm, helping create visual identities across the brand’s channels as well as leading the brand’s ambitious store expansion and the design of their new flagship and corporate Headquarters in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Afterwards, he joined Jcrew as VP of Design, working on the brands 2018 relaunch, and repositioning. Today he is the senior vice president of product design and head of metaverse and web 3.0 for Crate and Barrel brands- the leading American home furnishings retailer based in Chicago Illinois. In this post he leads the brand’s design and strategic product vision as well as its creative direction & visual identity, overseeing a team of best in class in-house and global design talent. Under his expanded responsibility, he will guide Crate and Barrel’s strategic vision of the future metaverse and Web 3.0. * View Profile CATHERINE HENRY Senior vice president of metaverse innovation strategy, Media.Monks bar1 bar2 CATHERINE HENRY Senior vice president of metaverse innovation strategy, Media.Monks October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Catherine is a leading voice shaping our understanding of the Metaverse. A seasoned economist who began her career as a tech analyst at the World Bank, Catherine focuses on how advances in virtualization, ubiquitous high/speed connectivity, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are transforming business today. With a career spanning nearly 20 years in global financial services leading institutional sales for private and equity tech investments, Catherine coaches companies on how the Metaverse will affect their business. As SVP of Web3, Metaverse Strategy at Media.Monks, Catherine combines emerging technology macro forecasting with strategic planning to guide major global brands onto the Metaverse. Through decoding technology and interactive experiences, she helps brands negotiate new worlds, immersive platforms and consumer behaviors. She earned an MA in economics at the Johns Hopkins SAIS, and post-graduate studies did post-graduate work in Economics and Management at SDA Bocconi and in immersive media & VR Film making at NY Film Academy. Catherine has lived and worked extensively in Europe and Asia and speaks five languages. MODERATED BY * View Profile CHRISTOPHER BISHOP Chief reinvention officer, Improvising Careers bar1 bar2 CHRISTOPHER BISHOP Chief reinvention officer, Improvising Careers October 27th 2022 * 02:30 pm -3:10 pm Debate — The metaprise: are we all metaverse companies now? What companies will thrive in this new environment? Christopher Bishop is a workplace futurist, TEDx speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and former IBMer. Chris writes and speaks about career implications driven by bleeding edge technologies including quantum information science, artificial intelligence, cryptoassets, blockchain, fintech, augmented/virtual reality and robotics. Based on his own atypical career path – he has had eight so far – Chris designed a workshop called “How to succeed at jobs that don’t exist yet” to give today’s learners insight into how to successfully navigate the new world of work. He has shared this perspective at various universities including Baruch, Columbia, Duke, Queens College, Stern School of Business at NYU, Texas A&M and Union College. Chris also recorded a live-action course for LinkedIn Learning called “Future-proofing your data science career” – which went live in May 2020. 3:10 pm -3:55 pm EST INTEROPERABILITY AND STANDARDS: HOW WILL WE MOVE BETWEEN VIRTUAL WORLDS, AND WILL WE BE ABLE TO TAKE OUR ASSETS WITH US? The metaverse, for now, is a siloed collection of separate virtual worlds, rather than one big open platform akin to the internet. This makes transfer of assets between these spaces difficult, limiting their value. How realistic is the vision of the open metaverse? What are the barriers to overcome to enable interoperability between platforms? * View Profile MATHIEU NOUZARETH Chief executive, The Sandbox US bar1 bar2 MATHIEU NOUZARETH Chief executive, The Sandbox US October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Paris-born, LA based serial web entrepreneur Mathieu Nouzareth is the CEO of The Sandbox US. The Sandbox is the leading decentralized metaverse. Mathieu Nouzareth began his career in 1995 at 23 by co-founding WebConcept, one of France’s first e-business consulting firms. WebConcept was sold to Sweden’s IconMedialab of Sweden in 1999. In 2001, Mathieu and his brother Romain started Boonty.com, a digital game distribution company. Operating in over 30 countries with a staff of 180, the company was sold to Nexway in 2008. In 2006, Mathieu co-founded Is Cool Entertainment, a social casual game publisher which was listed on the Paris stock market, and later acquired by publishing company Hachette. In 2017, Mathieu co-founded CCU, a leading crypto currency mining company in Canada that went public in Toronto in 2021. From 2009 to 2022, Mathieu was the CEO of FreshPlanet, the New York-based developer of the mega hit social music trivia mobile game SongPop. The game has built a global following of over 150 Million players since its launch in June 2012. In 2018, FreshPlanet was sold to Gameloft, one of the leading mobile game developer in the world. Mathieu is a graduate of the Grenoble School of Management and holds an MBA from Pace University in New York. * View Profile ARTUR SYCHOV Founder and chief executive, Somnium Space bar1 bar2 ARTUR SYCHOV Founder and chief executive, Somnium Space October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Artur is founder and chief executive of Somnium Space. He has been navigating virtual worlds for more than two decades starting with Ultima Online in 1999, then Second Life and many more. Artur strongly believes in the ultimate future of Virtual Reality worlds with open and decentralized economy based on blockchain, amazing creation tools where imagination is the only limit. Artur has worked as an investment trader for many years before creating his first startup and becoming a serial entrepreneur. He is husband and a father of two wonderful children. * View Profile BENOIT PAGOTTO Co-founder, RTFKT bar1 bar2 BENOIT PAGOTTO Co-founder, RTFKT October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Benoit Pagotto Pagotto, co founder of RTFKT, founded in Jan 2020 and acquired by Nike in Dec 2021. After studying fine arts, while working at the French concept store Colette, Benoit’s career up to founding RTFKT has been between working in the luxury and gaming industry, making for a unique ability to connect the dots to shape experiences and brands of the future. * View Profile NEIL TREVETT Vice president of developer ecosystems, NVIDIA bar1 bar2 NEIL TREVETT Vice president of developer ecosystems, NVIDIA October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Neil Trevett is vice president of developer ecosystems at NVIDIA where he helps enable applications to take advantage of advanced GPU and silicon acceleration. Neil has also served as the elected president of the Khronos Group for more than 20 years and most recently founded and now serves as the initial chair for the Metaverse Standards Forum. The Khronos Group, a non-profit standards development organization (SDO), has been working on “metaverse tech” for 20 years. Neil has been at the forefront of the 3D and metaverse revolution bringing interactive 3D to mobile and the PC. And he is passionate about making the metaverse an open and inclusive landscape, where content moves freely, and hardware is interchangeable. Neil has a unique perspective of technology development, adoption, and advancement, where standards are created through the group from collaboration with top technology (software and hardware) companies in each industry. * View Profile TIMMU TÕKE Co-founder and chief executive, Ready Player Me bar1 bar2 TIMMU TÕKE Co-founder and chief executive, Ready Player Me October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Timmu Tõke is the co-founder and chief executive of Ready Player Me, a cross-game avatar platform used by 3000+ companies and has raised $72m from a16z and others. Timmu has been building avatar tech for 9 years, starting from hardware 3D scanners to custom-building avatar tech for top gaming companies. MODERATED BY * View Profile ADRIAN MA Assistant Professor, journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University bar1 bar2 ADRIAN MA Assistant Professor, journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University October 27th 2022 * 03:10 pm -3:55 pm Interoperability and standards: how will we move between virtual worlds, and will we be able to take our assets with us? Adrian Ma is an award-winning journalist, multimedia producer, professor and author. He specializes in teaching digital news reporting, personal branding and 360/VR storytelling at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Canada. 3:55 pm -4:10 pm EST DESIGNING FOR ‘THE PROTEUS EFFECT’: HOW WILL METAVERSE CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOUR AS IT RESHAPES OUR EXPERIENCES? The metaverse will likely have sweeping consequences for human behaviour. The “Proteus effect” is a phenomenon describing how people change their behaviour in virtual worlds based on the characteristics of their avatar, such as visual features. In other words, people will engage in behaviours different than they would normally and conform to what is expected or stereotypical behaviour based on the appearance of their avatars. Embodied cognition theory means that “states of the body modify states of the mind”. As we enter Web3, understanding these psychological principles of empathic design is more important than ever if society is to be better off. * View Profile DR LIRAZ MARGALIT Digital psychologist; behavioural economics, consumer behaviour and human computer interaction, University of Haifa bar1 bar2 DR LIRAZ MARGALIT Digital psychologist; behavioural economics, consumer behaviour and human computer interaction, University of Haifa October 27th 2022 * 03:55 pm -4:10 pm Designing for ‘the Proteus effect’: how will metaverse change our behaviour as it reshapes our experiences? Liraz Margalit, PhD, is a Social Psychologist who specializes in Behavioral Design and Decision Making. She integrates Neuropsychology and Behavioral Economics perspectives to analyze User behavior and deliver actionable insights for business stakeholders. Liraz is a lecturer at the IDC and a worldwide keynote speaker. Her consumer behavior research was awarded with the OBE, Online Business Excellence for 2016 as well as the Best of Neuromarketing and was chosen as CMSWire contributor of the year 2017. Her research papers and studies can be found in top business magazines such as Entrepreneur, TechCrunch and Forbes. She also writes an ongoing blog for Psychology Today named “Behind Online Behavior”. 4:10 pm -4:55 pm EST PANEL DISCUSSION: ANSWERING THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION AND STOPPING THE TROLLS IN THEIR TRACKS: WHO SHOULD MODERATE THE METAVERSE? Sponsored by Meta: Will we see unintended consequences from the metaverse? What guardrails do we need? Could decentralisation of authority lead to a den of iniquity? How will governance work in the metaverse? Who should decide the rules, and what should these rules be? How to establish social norms for the metaverse? * View Profile DR. LOUIS ROSENBERG Chief executive and chief scientist, Unanimous AI bar1 bar2 DR. LOUIS ROSENBERG Chief executive and chief scientist, Unanimous AI October 27th 2022 * 04:10 pm -4:55 pm Panel discussion: answering the million-dollar question and stopping the trolls in their tracks: who should moderate the metaverse? Dr. Louis Rosenberg is an early pioneer in the fields of virtual and augmented reality. His work began over thirty years ago in labs at Stanford, NASA, and the US Air Force. He earned his PhD from Stanford University, has been awarded over 300 patents for VR, AR, and AI technologies, and writes often about the metaverse for academic and mainstream publications. In 1992, Rosenberg developed the first interactive augmented reality system at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In 1993 he founded the early virtual reality company Immersion Corporation, which pioneered a diverse range of metaverse technologies from medical VR systems for surgical training to haptic interfaces for consumer markets. Now a public company on NASDAQ, Immersion is possibly the oldest VR company still around from the early days. Rosenberg also founded Microscribe 3D, a company that helped bring 3D graphics to gaming and entertainment. Launched in 1996, their Microscribe digitizer was used in the making of many classic films, from Shrek and Ice Age to Titanic. In 2004 Rosenberg founded the augmented reality company Outland Research, developer of early geospatial media technologies and AR interface technologies acquired by Google in 2011. In 2014, Rosenberg founded Unanimous AI, an artificial intelligence company that amplifies the intelligence of human groups in shared environments. Their award-winning Swarm software is used by Fortune 500 corporations to amplify the intelligence of human teams, enabling significantly more accurate forecasts, predictions and decisions while keeping humans in the loop. Louis Rosenberg is currently a leading voice on the need for metaverse regulation, sounding the alarm that without regulation metaverse platforms could wield unprecedented power over the lives of consumers. As an advocate for metaverse consumer protections, Rosenberg is currently the Chief Scientist of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, the Global Technology Advisor to the XR Safety Initiative (XRSI), a technology advisor to the Future of Marketing Institute, and a regular contributor to VentureBeat and Big Think on metaverse and AI related issues. * View Profile THOMAS A. FURNESS Professor of industrial and systems engineering, University of Washington bar1 bar2 THOMAS A. FURNESS Professor of industrial and systems engineering, University of Washington October 27th 2022 * 04:10 pm -4:55 pm Panel discussion: answering the million-dollar question and stopping the trolls in their tracks: who should moderate the metaverse? * 06:40 pm -7:00 pm Closing keynote: Will most of our metaverse experiences be headset or browser-based? What are the implications for accessibility? Dr. Tom Furness is a pioneer in human interface technology and grandfather of virtual reality. He is currently a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering with adjunct professorships in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. He is the founder of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) at UW and founder and international director of the HIT Lab NZ at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand and the HIT Lab Australia at the University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania. He is also an Erskine Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Canterbury and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania. He is the founder of the Virtual World Society dedicated to bringing together heart and mind through virtual reality to solve pervasive problems in the world. Prior to joining the faculty at the UW, he served a combined 23 years as an U.S. Air Force officer and civilian scientist at the Armstrong Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he developed advanced cockpits and virtual interfaces for the Department of Defense. He is the author of the Super Cockpit program and served as the Chief of Visual Display Systems and Super Cockpit Director until he joined the University of Washington in 1989. He is credited as a pioneer in developing virtual reality and augmented reality. Tom lectures widely and has appeared in many national and international network and syndicated television science and technology documentaries and news programs. He is the inventor of the personal eyewear display, the virtual retinal display, the HALO display and holds 19 patents in advanced sensor, display and interface technologies. With his colleagues Dr. Furness has started 27 companies, two of which are traded on NASDAQ at a market capitalization of > $8 B (USD). In 1998 he received the Discover Award for his invention of the virtual retinal display. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Furness was the Chairman and President of the first Augmented Reality Company: ARToolworks Inc. recently acquire by DAQRI. He also runs his own ‘skunkworks’ company: RATLab LLC (RAT = rockin’ and thinkin’) where he and his colleagues develop advanced technologies for spinoff companies. His current projects deal with developing pulse diagnosis as an early warning system for cardiovascular disease and the start-up of the Virtual World Society, a non-profit for extending virtual reality as a learning system for families. He is also co-inventor of the SPM (spectral matching) technology licensed to Visualant Inc. He continues to serve as a Senior Scientific Advisor for the company and recently received the 2013 SPIE Prism Award for his invention of the ChromaID technology. Dr. Furness has continued an active role in virtual and augmented reality development and application. In August 2014 he presented a keynote address: ‘Seeing Anew’ at the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality in Munich, Germany and a keynote titled ‘Being the future’ at the Augmented World Expo June 2015 in Santa Clara, California, where he received the first lifetime achievement award for his 50 year contribution to the VR and AR Industries. In March 2016 Tom received the IEEE VR Career Award for his lifetime contributions to the fields of virtual and Augmented Reality. * View Profile BRENT C. HARRIS Vice president of governance, Meta Platforms bar1 bar2 BRENT C. HARRIS Vice president of governance, Meta Platforms October 27th 2022 * 04:10 pm -4:55 pm Panel discussion: answering the million-dollar question and stopping the trolls in their tracks: who should moderate the metaverse? Brent Harris is an American lawyer and technology executive. As vice president of governance at Meta Platforms, Harris directs a 50-person team of business, trust and safety, and policy professionals. He is pioneering new ways to advance governance of the company’s products, including Facebook, Instagram, and the Metaverse. Harris is playing a leadership role on how the company and the industry build the architecture of the Metaverse. During his time at Meta, he has worked on a wide array of issues at the intersection of technology and society, including content moderation, data transparency, and social issues. Named an “expert in international regulation” by Wired, Harris has over fifteen years of experience on high-stakes and high-profile matters. Previously, he was a senior partner at Redstone Strategy Group, where he advised boards and executives on strategy and public policy. While at the firm, he was an architect of partnerships to support amending the Montreal Protocol and ending the haze crisis in Southeast Asia. Earlier in his career, Harris was the vice president for operations at ClimateWorks. Prior to that, he served as counsel for the Presidential Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, where he investigated the management and regulatory failures that resulted in the largest oil spill in American history. He started his career as a fellow at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. In addition to his work at Meta, Harris serves as a board member for Menlo Spark, an environment nonprofit, and an advisor to Pacaso, the fastest startup to reach a billion-dollar valuation. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and law degrees from Stanford University, where he edited the Stanford Law Review. His writing has appeared in op-eds for the New York Times. Originally from Oklahoma, he lives in California with his wife and son. MODERATED BY * View Profile APRIL BOYD-NORONHA Global diversity and inclusion advisor and board member, XR Safety Initiative (XRSI) bar1 bar2 APRIL BOYD-NORONHA Global diversity and inclusion advisor and board member, XR Safety Initiative (XRSI) October 27th 2022 * 04:10 pm -4:55 pm Panel discussion: answering the million-dollar question and stopping the trolls in their tracks: who should moderate the metaverse? April Boyd-Noronha is currently the Global Diversity & Inclusion Advisor and Board Member of the XR Safety Initiative (XRSI), the first global non-profit with the mission of helping build safe and inclusive realities. She has over 20 years of experience in academia and advanced technologies as an author, global keynote speaker, thought leader, and advisor on emerging trends and the future of work on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of historically marginalized populations. April is the new Global Security Awareness Manager for Cardinal Health. She also continues to blaze a trail in equitable practices as the first Black elected school board member of the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) which is the 3rd largest school district in the state of Kansas. April is the parent of three children who all are pursuing a STEM career track in cybersecurity, engineering, and drone piloting. 4:55 pm -5:10 pm EST PRESENTATION: HOW MUCH DOES MY VR HEADSET KNOW ABOUT ME? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE NATURAL INPUTS LIKE EYE-TRACKING AND BEHAVIOURAL DATA ARE HANDLED ETHICALLY? How to define biometric data? When is it innocuous vs. invasive? How should biometric data be handled during a time when the law and regulation are lagging behind technological developments? How should privacy be balanced with beneficial user features? * View Profile DR CHARLES NDUKA Chief executive and chief scientific officer, Emteq Labs bar1 bar2 DR CHARLES NDUKA Chief executive and chief scientific officer, Emteq Labs October 27th 2022 * 04:55 pm -5:10 pm Presentation: How much does my VR headset know about me? How do we make sure natural inputs like eye-tracking and behavioural data are handled ethically? Charles Nduka is founder and chief executive of Emteq Labs a UK-based company making emotion sensing technology for VR headsets and AR glasses. A medical graduate of both Oxford and Imperial College Charles trained as a facial reconstructive surgeon focused on treating facial muscle paralysis. This work led him to develop wearable facial electromyography systems for rehabilitation and training. Emteq’s technology is also in use by leading researchers and content creators to measure responses to immersive experiences. Charles has numerous patents on their multi-award winning technology, and is passionate about promoting data privacy, safety and security. As a researcher, he has published numerous papers. In fact, his first research article was on VR training and was published in 1994 during the first wave of VR! Charles is passionate about the importance of objectively measuring the effectiveness of immersive experiences. He believes that more trust in XR will come from the application of the same principles of rigorous evaluation, data security and privacy that apply to conventional medical interventions. Emteq Labs co-sponsor the XR Research Awards (XRRA.org), with the aim of partnering with leading academic and commercial organisations to facilitate collaboration with researchers and developers and drive the adoption of safe, high quality XR experiences. 5:10 pm -5:55 pm EST WHAT ADVANCES IN EXTENDED REALITY (XR) TECHNOLOGIES WILL HELP THE METAVERSE TO GO MAINSTREAM? WHAT LIMITATIONS ARE THERE TODAY? Sponsored by Cleanbox: What will it take to scale to 10bn headsets, and what is the road-map for making XR less nauseating? What technological developments still need to happen? How much computing power is necessary to achieve zero latency for mixed reality devices? The new “North Star”: is the metaverse ready for the mass market, and how quickly can the technology scale? * View Profile ELIZABETH HYMAN President and chief operating officer, XR Association bar1 bar2 ELIZABETH HYMAN President and chief operating officer, XR Association October 26th 2022 * 05:15 pm -5:45 pm Panel discussion: who are you and who are your tribes? What do identity and authenticity look like in the metaverse? October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Elizabeth Hyman is president and chief operating officer of the XR Association (XRA), the trade association promoting the dynamic growth of the XR industry which includes virtual reality, augmented reality, mixedreality, and immersive technologies yet to be invented. XRA is dedicated to the responsible development and thoughtful advancement of XR technologies across the globe. Prior to joining XRA, Ms. Hyman served as Executive Vice President of Public Advocacy at the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), where she led the association’s outreach to members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and other international, federal, state, and local government institutions that shape public policies affecting the IT industry. Ms. Hyman brings more than two decades of experience in the worlds of government, policy, and technology. She began her career in government, including positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of the President, and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and has experience in the private sector both in the practice of law and in business. She is a graduate of Tufts University, completed the General Course program at the London School of Economics, and holds a law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. * View Profile DR WALTER GREENLEAF Neuroscientist, virtual reality, and digital health expert, Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab bar1 bar2 DR WALTER GREENLEAF Neuroscientist, virtual reality, and digital health expert, Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Walter Greenleaf is a neuroscientist and a medical technology developer working at Stanford University. With over three decades of research and development experience, Walter is considered a leading authority in the field of digital medicine and medical virtual reality technology. Walter’s current research focus is on developing computer-supported clinical products, with a specific emphasis on applying virtual reality and digital health technology to address difficult problems in behavioral and physical medicine such as Post-traumatic Stress, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Stroke, Addictions, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has served as the Principal Investigator for research projects funded by the NIH and by NASA. Walter is currently a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, and the Director of Technology Strategy at the University of Colorado National Mental Health Innovation Center. He previously served as the Director of the Mind Division, Stanford Center on Longevity, where his focus was on age-related changes in cognition. Walter founded and served as CEO for Greenleaf Medical Systems, a medical product development company; InWorld Solutions, a company specializing in the therapeutic use of virtual worlds for behavioral health care; and Virtually Better, a company that develops virtual environments for the treatment of phobias, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. He is currently working with Interaxon as Chief Science Officer. Walter serves on the Board of Directors for Brainstorm: The Stanford Laboratory for Brain Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship; for Cognitive Leap, a company that develops mental health solutions for children; and for Sine Wave. Walter was Senior Vice President of Strategic & Corp. Affairs to MindMaze and founding Chief Science Officer for Pear Therapeutics, a pioneering company in SaMD (Software As Medical Device). In addition to his research at Stanford University, Walter is the business, technology and neuroscience advisor to several medical product companies, investment groups, and accelerator / incubator programs. * View Profile AMY HEDRICK Founder and chief executive, Cleanbox bar1 bar2 AMY HEDRICK Founder and chief executive, Cleanbox October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Amy Hedrick is the founder and chief executive of Cleanbox Technology, the global leader in smart tech hygiene. Her strategy for building a thriving business by solving a real-world problem, and her vision for creating a global impact brand with reach across multiple industries, has grown the company from an idea to a multimillion-dollar global business in three years. Hedrick’s execution of the company’s vision has established Cleanbox as a brand trusted by its many Fortune clients. Hedrick is a thought leader in the applications of immersive technology as industry disruptors and brings innovation ideas and new market opportunities to Cleanbox’s smart tech hygiene product lines. She has led multiple teams from project inception and funding, to planning and execution, proving herself an effective leader in multiple industries over the past decade. MODERATED BY * View Profile ROBERT FINE Executive director, International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association (IVRHA) bar1 bar2 ROBERT FINE Executive director, International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association (IVRHA) October 26th 2022 * 06:00 pm -6:30 pm Panel discussion: is Web3 the solution to doing a better job with data? The practicalities of returning control to consumers October 27th 2022 * 05:10 pm -5:55 pm What advances in extended reality (XR) technologies will help the metaverse to go mainstream? What limitations are there today? Robert is the executive director and founder of IVRHA (International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association). In 2009, Robert started Cool Blue Media by organizing the first social media conference on the east coast of the United States, leading to the publication of the text book, “The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories and Perspectives” and shortly thereafter the only printed magazine covering social media, The Social Media Monthly. In May 2016, he launched VRVoice.co, a content vertical exploring virtual reality in the enterprise. In 2017, Robert started the largest annual conference on virtual reality and healthcare with events taking place both in the US and Europe. Prior to 2009, Robert was the Senior Director of Global Strategy and Development of IT at Conservation International (CI). Robert joined CI in 2000 to take responsibility for connecting all of CI’s forty field offices to the Internet with broadband connectivity. During his 10 year tenure, he built an international staff of 25 IT professionals. Robert has over ten years of additional work experience as a systems and sales engineer with various companies including CMGI, Hughes Network Systems, ioWave and Raytheon. Robert has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University, a master’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Johns Hopkins University, and is ABD at George Mason University. 5:55 pm -6:25 pm EST PANEL DISCUSSION: HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THE VIRTUAL-REAL-ESTATE LAND GRAB? IS IT STILL ‘LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION’? Gamers have traded pixelated property and other digital assets for years. Now, turbocharged by the growth of NFTs and by the hype around the metaverse, virtual-property prices are going through the roof and investors are paying hard currency for software real estate. But is the bubble about to burst? * View Profile ANDREW KIGUEL Co-founder and chief executive, Tokens.com bar1 bar2 ANDREW KIGUEL Co-founder and chief executive, Tokens.com October 27th 2022 * 05:55 pm -6:25 pm Panel discussion: how sustainable is the virtual-real-estate land grab? Is it still ‘location, location, location’? Andrew Kiguel is the co-founder and chief executive of Tokens.com, a publicly listed company that invests in Metaverse real estate, DeFi and NFT related digital assets. Andrew acts as the Chair for Metaverse Group and Hulk Labs, both subsidiaries of Tokens.com. Andrew also co-founded and is the former chief executive of Hut 8 Mining, one of the largest publicly listed bitcoin miners in the world. Prior to that, Andrew spent 20 years as an investment banker with a focus on technology and real estate. Andrew is an accomplished executive with leadership experience in capital markets, corporate governance and entrepreneurship. * View Profile JANINE YORIO Co-founder and chief executive, Everyrealm bar1 bar2 JANINE YORIO Co-founder and chief executive, Everyrealm October 27th 2022 * 05:55 pm -6:25 pm Panel discussion: how sustainable is the virtual-real-estate land grab? Is it still ‘location, location, location’? Janine Yorio is the co-founder and chief executive of Everyrealm, a metaverse innovation and investment platform. Everyrealm is among the largest owners of digital real estate NFTs in several metaverses including Decentraland, The Sandbox, and Axie Infinity, and among the most active developers of in-metaverse developments including the Metajuku shopping center and the Fantasy Islands ultra-luxury master-planned community NFT project. Janine was previously the CEO of Compound, a fintech app focused on real estate investing that was backed by leading VC firms NEA and Founders Fund, that was acquired by Republic in 2020. She also previously worked in private equity for Northstar Capital and in real estate and hotel development at The Standard Hotels. She is a graduate of Yale University. * View Profile ANDREW UERKWITZ Managing director, Jeffries bar1 bar2 ANDREW UERKWITZ Managing director, Jeffries October 27th 2022 * 05:55 pm -6:25 pm Panel discussion: how sustainable is the virtual-real-estate land grab? Is it still ‘location, location, location’? Andrew Uerkwitz joined Jefferies in February 2021 following nearly 10 year as a senior analyst covering emerging technology including video games and consumer tech at Oppenhiemer & Co. Before joining equity research, Andrew had roles in accounting and consulting from 2003-2007. Andrew received his BS in Management Acounting from the University of Massachusetts Boston and received and MBA at the Stern School of Business at New York University. * View Profile AMY LAMEYER Managing partner, WXR Fund bar1 bar2 AMY LAMEYER Managing partner, WXR Fund October 27th 2022 * 05:55 pm -6:25 pm Panel discussion: how sustainable is the virtual-real-estate land grab? Is it still ‘location, location, location’? Amy LaMeyer is an investor and advisor in early stage music and metaverse companies including Stageverse, Tribe XR, Infinite Album and Ristband. As one of two managing partners of the WXR Fund, she has invested in 12 companies women led VR, AR, AI start-ups across a variety of sectors including retail, enterprise, healthcare, training, remote work, real estate and education. Amy is the author of ‘Sound and AR’ in Charlie Fink’s book “Convergence: How the World Will Be Painted With Data”. She was one of the first to be interviewed by Wired magazine on virtual concerts. Amy is often asked to speaks on immersive music trends including SXSW, Music Tectonics, AES, Metaverse Summit, The Rattle and AWE and has participated in several podcasts on the opportunities of spatial computing and virtual music experiences. If building or investing in these areas, she can be reached at @amylameyer on Twitter. MODERATED BY * View Profile THEO PRIESTLEY Chief executive, Metanomic bar1 bar2 THEO PRIESTLEY Chief executive, Metanomic October 27th 2022 * 05:55 pm -6:25 pm Panel discussion: how sustainable is the virtual-real-estate land grab? Is it still ‘location, location, location’? Theo is a leading tech futurist and globally recognised author and public speaker on the convergence of many emerging trends towards the metaverse and Web3. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Metanomic, a complete web3 economic and AI analytics platform for game developers, metaverse builders and the creator economy. Priestley has worked with some of the biggest names in tech and business including SAP, Siemens, Bosch, Software AG, AON, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise – consulting, and advising on implementing innovation strategies, strategic foresight, and emerging technologies. He has mentored for a number of startup accelerators including HTC ViveX VR incubator, BRINC’s Web3 and Metaverse accelerator and Alchemist, one of Silicon Valley’s Top 10. Priestley has published more than 250 articles on topics including Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech and Blockchain, Smart Cities, Web3, Metaverse, Marketing, Digital Transformation, and Virtual Reality, for Forbes, the European, WIRED, Huffington Post and Business2Community. He has also contributed to VentureBeat, GigaOM, The Times Raconteur, and has been interviewed for BBC Radio and UK national television news on technology trends. He recently authored the book, The Future Starts Now, published internationally through Bloomsbury. An energetic, informative, and polished speaker, he has engaged groups ranging from 20-2000 on Emerging Technology trends and featured talks have occurred at CeBIT, TEDx, Metaverse Summit, Big Data Expo China, W3BXpo, Play-to-Earn Expo Thailand, World Summit AI, Venice Film Festival, meetups, webinars, innovation boot camps, and corporate events. 6:25 pm -6:40 pm EST DO YOU NEED TO HIRE A “HEAD OF METAVERSE”? IF YES, HOW TO WRITE THE JOB DESCRIPTION? Which function should the metaverse sit within? Does it require dedicated personnel? What skills and experience does an effective Head of Metaverse need to possess? * View Profile CATHY HACKL Co-founder and chief metaverse officer, Journey bar1 bar2 CATHY HACKL Co-founder and chief metaverse officer, Journey October 27th 2022 * 06:25 pm -6:40 pm Do you need to hire a “Head of Metaverse”? If yes, how to write the job description? Cathy Hackl is a leading tech futurist and globally recognized business leader with deep expertise in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), spatial computing, & the metaverse. She is one of LinkedIn’s top technology voices (the highest honor on the platform) and a champion for diversity in tech. Ms. Hackl has worked with some of the biggest names in tech including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE. She leads the Futures Intelligence Group & Future Metaverse Labs, an emerging technology consulting firm and lab that helps brands through strategic foresight and next-gen actionable strategies, helping brands and businesses enter the metaverse via virtual goods, virtual worlds, AR VR, and gaming. She also serves as VP at Avatar Dimension, the only Microsoft Mixed Reality volumetric video capture studio on the East Coast helping brands in entertainment, fashion, enterprise, and beyond create holograms. Avatar Dimension helped Dimension Studio in London with some of the work on Balenciaga’s futuristic fusion of volumetric capture and video gaming for the launch of their 2021 Fall Collection. This project incorporated 50 volumetric characters, one of the largest volumetric video projects ever undertaken. BigThink named her one of the top 10 most influential women in tech in 2020 and she’s been called the CEO’s business guide to the metaverse. Cathy was included in the 2021 prestigious Thinkers50 Radar list of the 30 management thinkers most likely to shape the future of how organizations are managed and led. She’s a Limited Partner at the WXR Fund, which invests in female-led early-stage startups focused on the next phase of the internet and AI. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and author. She has spoken at CES, SXSW, Comic-Con, Adobe Summit, Harvard Business School. Facebook, Twitter, Aspen Institute, In-Q-Tel, US Navy, SDA Bocconi, IE, Singularity University, and many other places Ms. Hackl is a professionally trained futurist and uses strategic foresight and futures intelligence to harness weak signals and today’s emerging trends and help companies and brands future-proof their long-term strategic planning. Hackl has been featured in media outlets like 60 Minutes, CNBC, CNN, NBC News, Forbes, Vogue Business, Barron’s, Salon, VentureBeat, Digiday, Digital Trends, CMO.com, and Mashable. She is a global advisor for VR AR Association and was recognized in 2016 by NBC News as one of the top Latina women working in VR. Before working in technology, she worked at media companies such as CNN, Discovery, and ABC News and was nominated in 2007 for an EMMY Award for her storytelling work. She’s also the creator of the world’s first holographic press release and loves all things spatial computing, digital economy, and futurism. MODERATED BY * View Profile WALTER PASQUARELLI Manager, tech and society, Economist Impact bar1 bar2 WALTER PASQUARELLI Manager, tech and society, Economist Impact October 27th 2022 * 12:30 pm -1:15 pm Panel discussion — monetisation of the metaverse: who is making money today at the intersection of creators, corporates and community? * 06:25 pm -6:40 pm Do you need to hire a “Head of Metaverse”? If yes, how to write the job description? Walter Pasquarelli is a manager in the tech and society team at Economist Impact, where he delivers research and engagement programmes that use evidence and data to drive change on tech policy issues. He was previously AI policy lead at an international consultancy, where he advised governments and tech companies on AI benchmarking and strategy. As part of this he also worked as a consultant with the Open Data Institute on enabling data-sharing across different sectors. Mr Pasquarelli is an AI policy fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath. 6:40 pm -7:00 pm EST CLOSING KEYNOTE: WILL MOST OF OUR METAVERSE EXPERIENCES BE HEADSET OR BROWSER-BASED? WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACCESSIBILITY? How will the metaverse reach regions that lack the infrastructure or the purchase power for headsets? How many of our experiences will be device agnostic (VR headsets, wearable devices, smartphones, PCs)? Will it be predominantly AR, VR, or MR? * View Profile THOMAS A. FURNESS Professor of industrial and systems engineering, University of Washington bar1 bar2 THOMAS A. FURNESS Professor of industrial and systems engineering, University of Washington October 27th 2022 * 04:10 pm -4:55 pm Panel discussion: answering the million-dollar question and stopping the trolls in their tracks: who should moderate the metaverse? * 06:40 pm -7:00 pm Closing keynote: Will most of our metaverse experiences be headset or browser-based? What are the implications for accessibility? Dr. Tom Furness is a pioneer in human interface technology and grandfather of virtual reality. He is currently a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering with adjunct professorships in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. He is the founder of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) at UW and founder and international director of the HIT Lab NZ at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand and the HIT Lab Australia at the University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania. He is also an Erskine Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Canterbury and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania. He is the founder of the Virtual World Society dedicated to bringing together heart and mind through virtual reality to solve pervasive problems in the world. Prior to joining the faculty at the UW, he served a combined 23 years as an U.S. Air Force officer and civilian scientist at the Armstrong Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he developed advanced cockpits and virtual interfaces for the Department of Defense. He is the author of the Super Cockpit program and served as the Chief of Visual Display Systems and Super Cockpit Director until he joined the University of Washington in 1989. He is credited as a pioneer in developing virtual reality and augmented reality. Tom lectures widely and has appeared in many national and international network and syndicated television science and technology documentaries and news programs. He is the inventor of the personal eyewear display, the virtual retinal display, the HALO display and holds 19 patents in advanced sensor, display and interface technologies. With his colleagues Dr. Furness has started 27 companies, two of which are traded on NASDAQ at a market capitalization of > $8 B (USD). In 1998 he received the Discover Award for his invention of the virtual retinal display. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Furness was the Chairman and President of the first Augmented Reality Company: ARToolworks Inc. recently acquire by DAQRI. He also runs his own ‘skunkworks’ company: RATLab LLC (RAT = rockin’ and thinkin’) where he and his colleagues develop advanced technologies for spinoff companies. His current projects deal with developing pulse diagnosis as an early warning system for cardiovascular disease and the start-up of the Virtual World Society, a non-profit for extending virtual reality as a learning system for families. He is also co-inventor of the SPM (spectral matching) technology licensed to Visualant Inc. He continues to serve as a Senior Scientific Advisor for the company and recently received the 2013 SPIE Prism Award for his invention of the ChromaID technology. Dr. Furness has continued an active role in virtual and augmented reality development and application. In August 2014 he presented a keynote address: ‘Seeing Anew’ at the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality in Munich, Germany and a keynote titled ‘Being the future’ at the Augmented World Expo June 2015 in Santa Clara, California, where he received the first lifetime achievement award for his 50 year contribution to the VR and AR Industries. In March 2016 Tom received the IEEE VR Career Award for his lifetime contributions to the fields of virtual and Augmented Reality. * Upcoming events * Past events * Webinars * About us * Become a sponsor KEEP UPDATED * * * * * * THE ECONOMIST GROUP * The Economist * EuroFinance * Editorial Staff * Commercial Payments International * The Economist Store * Accessibility * Site index * Privacy policy * Cookie info * Term to use * Manage Cookie Preferences Copyright @ The Economist Newspaper Limited 2022 All rights reserved CloseReferral Marketing Powered By InviteReferrals