Celebrating Innovation: AIFOD Recognizes Global AI Pioneers at the 2025 Geneva Winter Summit
On the inaugural day of the 2025 Geneva Winter Summit, the esteemed AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) hosted its Senior Fellowship Conferment Ceremony, celebrating 26 exceptional leaders who have significantly advanced AI development and digital sovereignty within the Global South. This ceremony, which occurred just prior to the afternoon sessions, began with a heartfelt welcome from the organizers, emphasizing the significance of the AI Senior Fellowship as their premier accolade for individuals showcasing extraordinary dedication to promoting inclusive AI development across the Global South.
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During the event, Curtis B. Charles, Director of Academic Affairs at the University of the West Indies, alongside Aya Raphael, Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations office in Geneva, were proud to present the Senior Fellowship Certificates to the honorees.
The 26 distinguished recipients, each contributing uniquely and valuably to AI development, include:
- Firman Freaddy Busroh – Dean, Sumpah Pemuda
- Obadare Peter Adewale – Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode Limited
- Jean-Simon Venne – Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, BrainboxAI
- Lindsey DeWitt Prat – Director of Research, Bold Insight
- Komes Chandavimol – Principal Data Scientist, KBTG
- Salvador Suniaga Hernandez – Technical Director, SolidIndustry
- Larry J. Keating – President and Founder, NPC DataGuard
- Agustinus Tobing – Security Assurance Lead, AWS Indonesia
- Niamh Peren – CSO & AI Safety Co-Director, Foresight Institute
- Allison Fisher – CEO, Verdas AI GmbH
- Vineet Kumar Singh – Founder & CEO, Castler.com
- Raymundo Aguilar – Chief Risk Officer, Acción Social Empresarial
- Sven Engel – CEO, CIO & Founder, SynapCon GmbH
- Anuradha Rao – CEO, PANFISH Solutions
- Raashika Adam – Chief Scientific Officer, Bionuclex Research
- Partha Gopalakrishnan – Founder, PG Advisors
- Eduardo Rosendo Pacheco Villagrán – Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Novygi
- Shaikh Farhan Chawla – Founder, SenseApplied
- Norita Md Norwawi – Cybersecurity & System Research Head, USIM
- Lola Olukuewu – Co-Founder/COO, AIVIRA.ai
- Vuk Vegezzi – Partner, Visium
- Simon Kriss – Chief AI Officer, simonkriss.ai
- Rajnish Dass – Managing Director, Catallyst
- Senthil M. Kumar – Chief Technology Officer, Slate Technologies
- Eric Famanas – Head of Development, Propel Finance
- Nicole Sweaney – Founder & Director, AI Her Way
These leaders embody a rich diversity of expertise, covering areas such as legal affairs, cybersecurity, energy innovation, UX research, data science, cloud security, AI safety, ethical AI implementation, fintech, risk management, biotech, digital transformation, and beyond. Their varied backgrounds span multiple continents and industries, perfectly illustrating the global character of AI development and its impact on the Global South.
As the ceremony progressed, it served not only to honor individual achievements but also to underscore the collective mission to bridge technological divides worldwide. It was a poignant reminder of the necessity for diverse viewpoints in shaping the future of AI and ensuring its advantages permeate every corner of the globe.
As the event concluded, attendees left with a palpable sense of hope and resolve. The AIFOD Senior Fellowship Conferment Ceremony set an uplifting tone for the remainder of the Geneva Winter Summit, reiterating the crucial role of collaboration and innovation in tackling global challenges using AI.
This celebration of 26 leaders from a variety of nations and backgrounds highlights the truly international persona of AI development and the shared commitment to leverage its capabilities for the enhancement of society, especially in developing countries. The multidisciplinary expertise among the fellows showcases the diverse approach needed to advance AI responsibly and inclusively on a global scale.
