Congress Travel

David Wiener

Advisor David Wiener

Noel Hillman

Vice President of Sales Noel has over 20 years of experience helping businesses scale. In that time, he has worked in a multiple functional disciplines across multiple industry segments. He has successfully helped 2 startups scale and was integral in building go-to-market plans for new fintech and SaaS products. His expertise lies in building high-performing sales and marketing teams that focus on customer experience, while implementing best in class processes to grow revenue efficiently. Noel lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with family and is an avid golfer.

Pegah Ebrahimi

Advisor Prior to joining KUDO, Pegah held managerial roles at Morgan Stanley as COO of Global Technology Banking and CIO of Global Investment Banking leading digital transformation. Most recently, she was the COO of Cisco’s Collaboration business. An entrepreneur at her core, Pegah has led multibillion-dollar divisions with a focus on growth strategies, large-scale transformation, and global expansion. She has launched two companies, incubated startups, and served as an advisor to multiple start-ups in technology and finance.

Frank Shirmo

Vice President of Security & Compliance Frank Shirmo, B.S & M.S Computer Science, Doctor of Management/Leadership Candidate, Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP®), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP®), Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP®), and Certified Mobile Device Security Professional (CMDSP®), is a true global cybersecurity leader serving federal, state, and local governments and commercial entities of all sizes for over 30 years in various capacities including Chief Information Security Officer, Vice President of Corporate and Product Security, and Cybersecurity Practice Lead. Frank has been an active member of the non-profit International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)² contributing to the education of thousands of cybersecurity professionals worldwide for over ten years.

Ewandro Magalhaes

Co-Founder | Chief Language Officer Ewandro brings to KUDO 20+ years of unparalleled experience as a world class linguist and language services executive. As a former Chief Interpreter in the United Nations system, he staffed, mentored and led top-shelf professionals in large conferences throughout the world. A prolific writer, trainer and speaker with a strong social media following, he has become a trend-setter among his peers. He is also the go-to person for technology solutions in language services. Ewandro has a Master’s Degree in Conference Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). He has lived and worked on three continents and speaks four languages in addition to his native Portuguese.

Barry S. Olsen

Vice President of Client Success Barry brings over 25 years of experience in interpreting and organizing language services to KUDO. A pioneer in the design and implementation of multilingual meeting platforms, he is co-inventor on two patents for remote simultaneous interpretation. As founder and co-president of InterpretAmerica, Barry spent a decade helping interpreters and their clients understand and successfully implement new technologies for multilingual meetings. A consummate communicator, Barry has been interviewed numerous times by international news media about multilingual communication and in 2019 collaborated with WIRED to produce a series of popular videos explaining the fascinating world of diplomatic interpretation. He is a professor of translation and interpreting at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) where he continues to help trainthe next generation of language professionals.

Parham Akhavan

Co-Founder | Chief Technology Officer Parham brings over 21 years of product design and software engineering to KUDO. In that time, Parham has led many startups, including his own. He has successfully delivered scalable service-oriented architecture for enterprise and consumer platforms. Parham has a wealth of experience building healthcare platform, content delivery for web and mobile applications for high profile clients. His expertise lies in building high performing teams and aligning business needs to product in order to artfully deliver challenging technical projects. Parham has lived in five countries and speaks three languages. He is an avid runner and mindfulness evangelist.

Jack de Keyser

VP e Capo Progetto Jack de Keyser è il capo progetto riguardante la tecnologia delle Nazioni Unite della Sala XIX consegnata a settembre 2019. Jack de Keyser ha curato il progetto dalla fase iniziale all’installazione, gestendo la distribuzione della soluzione in base a tutte le esigenze, le conformità tecniche dei monitor, il coordinamento del personale e dei subappaltatori, garantendo un’adeguata analisi. La carriera di Jack De Keyser nel settore audiovisivo racchiude 30 anni di esperienza in settori multidisciplinari, tra cui l'integrazione dei sistemi, la trasmissione e lo sviluppo tecnico del prodotto. La sua profonda conoscenza di tecnologie di congressi ha costituito il suo riconoscimento tra le organizzazioni internazionali con sede in Europa.

Paul Milligan

Editore InAVate EMEA Laureato in Media Studies alla London Metropolitan University, Paul Milligan è giornalista dal 1999, scrivendo per l'industria ProAV dal 2005, e ricopre da sei anni il ruolo di editore di InAVate EMEA Magazine.

Arch. Giampiero Peia

Presidente e Capo Architetto Presidente e Capo Architetto presso Peia Associati. Il progetto di Giampiero Peia è stato selezionato dal Ministero degli Affari Esteri dello Stato del Qatar per modernizzare e ristrutturare la Sala XIX, 800 posti rinnovati nella Sala delle Assemblee nelle Nazioni Unite di Ginevra. Lo Stato del Qatar ha finanziato l'intero costo dei lavori di ristrutturazione, stimati in 20 milioni CHF. Il progetto mette in evidenza l'identità del Qatar con le tecnologie più avanzate (primo Assembly Hall del mondo con la luce a ritmo circadiano) e le espressività architettoniche che simboleggiano i valori ambientali e culturali del Paese: la duna del deserto nella gigante cupola di legno, la calligrafia araba e le decorazioni Qatar Masharabya reinterpretati lungo le pareti.

Fardad Zabetian

Presidente Fardad Zabetian, imprenditore visionario, ha fondato due società con la più rapida crescita negli Stati Uniti d'America. Nel 2012, si è occupato del design e della completa configurazione delle sale riunioni delle Nazioni Unite, tra cui The General Assembly Hall di New York. Ha anche svolto un fondamentale ruolo di supporto come fornitore di attrezzature di fascia alta per varie riunioni del IMF / World Bank Annual Meetings e le diverse istituzioni europee. Nel 2016, AVAtronics e Fardad hanno co-fondato una società di tecnologia svizzera concentrandosi sulla cancellazione attiva del rumore. Nel 2017, ha fondato KUDO, portando l'esperienza dei meeting al di là della stanza, collegando le imprese e le persone in puro stile border-less, senza linguaggio o vincoli geografici.

Paul Milligan

Éditeur chez InAVate, région EMEA Diplômé en communication de l’Université métropolitaine de Londres, Paul Milligan a commencé sa carrière de journaliste en 1999 pour ensuite se spécialiser, depuis 2005, dans le secteur audiovisuel professionnel consacrant ces six dernières années au poste d’éditeur de la revue InAVate EMEA.

Arch. Giampiero Peia

Architecte en chef Le projet de Giampiero Peia, PDG et architecte en chef chez Peia Associati, a été sélectionné par le ministère des Affaires étrangères de l’État du Qatar en vue de la rénovation de la salle XlX, d’une capacité de 800 sièges, au sein des Nations unies à Genève. L’État du Qatar a financé la totalité des coûts de modernisation estimés à 20 millions de francs suisses. Le projet de Peia met en valeur l’identité du Qatar au moyen des dernières technologies de pointe (première salle de réunion au monde dotée d’une lumière circadienne) et d’éléments architecturaux symbolisant l’environnement et les valeurs culturelles du pays notamment les dunes du désert sous la forme d’un dôme en bois géant ainsi que la calligraphie arabe et les moucharabiehs réinterprétés le long des murs.

Fardad Zabetian

PDG et chargé de programme Entrepreneur éclairé, Fardad Zabetian a fondé deux entreprises qui se positionnent parmi celles dont la croissance a été la plus rapide aux États-Unis. En 2012, il a pris part à la conception et à la mise en œuvre de la refonte complète des salles de réunions du siège des Nations Unies à New York et notamment de la grande salle de l’Assemblée générale. Il a également joué un rôle clef en tant que fournisseur de matériel de haute gamme lors de plusieurs réunions annuelles du FMI, de la Banque mondiale et de différentes institutions européennes. En 2016, Fardad a co-fondé AVAtronics, une entreprise de technologie suisse qui se consacre au développement d’une technologie de suppression des bruits indésirables. En 2017, il a créé KUDO afin de permettre aux réunions multilingues de se tenir au-delà des salles de conférence. Les entreprises et les individus peuvent ainsi se réunir sans contraintes linguistiques ou géographiques.

Jack de Keyser

Vice-président et directeur de projet Jack De Keyser est le responsable en chef du projet de modernisation technologique de la salle XIX au siège des Nations Unies à Genève livré en septembre 2019. Depuis les toutes premières étapes de la conception jusqu’au travail d’installation en cours, il a supervisé le déploiement de cette solution en fonction des attentes spécifiques, s’est assuré du strict respect des exigences techniques, a dirigé le personnel et les sous-traitants et a élaboré les comptes-rendus pertinents. Jack De Keyser compte plus de 30 ans d’expérience dans le domaine de l’industrie audiovisuelle et notamment dans l’intégration de système, la télédiffusion et le développement technique. Ses compétences pointues en matière de technologies relatives aux congrès lui valent la reconnaissance de nombreuses organisations internationales européennes.

Arch. Giampiero Peia

Panelist CEO and Chief Architect at Peia Associati, Giampiero Peia’s design was selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar to modernize and renovate the Room XIX, i.e. the renewed 800 seats Assembly Hall in the United Nations of Geneva. The State of Qatar funded the full cost of the renovation, estimated at 20 million CHF. Peia’s project highlights the identity of Qatar with the most advanced technologies (first Assembly Hall in the world with circadian light) and the architectural expressivities that symbolize the environmental and cultural values of the country: the dune of the desert in the giant wooden dome, the arabic Calligraphy and the Qatar Masharayba patterns reinterpreted along the elevations.

Jack de Keyser

Panelist Jack de Keyser is the lead project manager in charge of the United Nations Room XIX technology upgrade delivered in September 2019. From the initial design stages to the current installation work, he manages the deployment of the solution according to all requirements, monitors technical compliance, coordinates the staff and sub-contractors, and ensures appropriate reporting. Jack De Keyser’s career in the audiovisual industry encompasses 30 years of experience in multidisciplinary fields including systems integration, broadcast, and technical product development. Jack De Keyser’s deep knowledge of congress technologies has established his recognition amongst European-based international organizations.

Fardad Zabetian

Panelist A visionary entrepreneur, Fardad Zabetian has founded and placed two companies among the fastest growing business in the United States of America. In 2012, he was part of the design and roll-out a complete makeover of the United Nation’s meeting facilities, including the General Assembly Hall in New York. He has also played a key supporting role as a high-end equipment provider to various iterations of the IMF/ World Bank Annual Meetings and several European Institutions. In 2016, Fardad co-founded AVAtronics, a Swiss technology company focusing on active noise canceling technology. In 2017, he founded KUDO, where he now takes the meeting experience beyond the room to connect businesses and people in true border-less fashion, without language or geographic constraints.

Paul Milligan

Moderator A Media Studies graduate of London Metropolitan University, Paul Milligan has been a journalist since 1999, and has been writing about the proAV industry since 2005, including six years in his current position of editor of InAVate EMEA Magazine.

Nader Vasseghi

Advisor Nader is an entrepreneur, CEO and executive coach based in Silicon Valley, California. He is the founder of Cnergist Inc., an executive coaching firm, committed to transforming and elevating the lives of business leaders and high achievers, and the founder of SelfOptima Inc. a web platform for optimal health. He was the founder and CEO of AuroraNetics which was acquired by Cisco where he went on to lead a business unit. Nader has over 35 years of experience in executive roles in public and private companies. He is an author, Vistage Chair, speaker and transformative workshop leader.

Fardad Zabetian

Founder and CEO A visionary entrepreneur, Fardad has founded and placed another two companies among the fastest growing business in America. He has also expanded to key markets over Europe and Asia. Fardad is no stranger to big challenges. In 2012, he was part of the design and roll-out a complete makeover of the United Nations’ meeting facilities, including the general assembly hall in New York. He has also played a key supporting role as a high-end equipment provider to various iterations of the IMF/ World Bank Annual Meetings and several European Institutions. With KUDO, Fardad now takes the meeting experience beyond the room to connect business and people in true borderless fashion, without language or geographic constraints.

Kirsten Nelson

Advisor Kirsten Nelson is a writer and event content generator with a focus on creative and engaging uses of audiovisual and immersive technologies. She connects audiences with stories about the expertise and passion of experience designers in a variety of entertainment, business and educational applications. Kirsten was the editor of SCN magazine for 17 years, and has written for numerous publications about technology, culture and motorcycles. She believes that the best stories are found where technology meets personality, and seeks to elevate the efforts of innovators who design with the human experience in mind.

Alex Brick

Advisor Alex is a Senior Advisor to SWaN. Mr. Brick brings decades of extensive experience as a retail entrepreneur and executive both in North America and Europe. Previously, Mr. Brick spent 5 years as Investment Director at LTG Capital sourcing and managing a portfolio of both direct and fund investments in private and public companies across the consumer sector. During his tenure, he led investments in a variety of brands including Mint Velvet, Evereve and Everyman Media Group, among others. Mr. Brick held several Board positions across the portfolio throughout his time at LTG. Prior to LTG Capital.

Mandana Javaheri

Advisor With more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and networking industries, Mandana Javaheri currently leads Microsoft Cybersecurity Business Development team. Before joining Microsoft, Mandana served as the CTO and head of technology alliances at Savvius, a network forensics company, where she defined product and technology directions as well as led strategic partnerships, product management and development. Mandana has a BS in Electrical Engineering and a MBA with concentration in finance and management. She also holds certifications in security, product management and leadership.