Chief Innovator at Prasu Inc and VP Conferences IEEE TEMS

Dr Sudeendra Thirtha Koushik is an engineering graduate, with management education and a PhD in Innovation. He has 28 years of experience in Innovation and Technology Management in India, Singapore and The Netherlands in various roles including new product and services development, project management, hardware, software and systems, intellectual property, people and customer management with more than 20 patents in various stages. He worked at Philips Netherlands, Europe, Philips India, HCL and TTK. As a part of his consulting firm PRASU, he has consulted top companies, many in automotive technology to help to develop a culture of innovation, build Innovation skills and generate business relevant innovations and intellectual property. He has been very actively engaged in the start-up sphere, by mentoring and supporting multiple start-ups, innovation centres, accelerators and incubators in multiple domains. He has also worked closely with academia and innovation, being a part of academic councils forging stronger industry academia collaboration.

Member Board of Governors (BoG), and Chair Industry & IEEE Society Engagement Committee.

Robert Bierwolf, MScEng, SMIEEE. A graduate from Delft University of Technology (1987), Faculty of Electrical Engineering – Computer Science. Robert is a member of the Board of Governors of IEEE Technology & Engineering Management Society (2015-2021), and in the IEEE Benelux Section, and IEEE Region 8 (EMEA). In his industry career, Robert held various senior management position for projects and programs as well as line- and operations management roles. A practitioner with over three decennia of experience in doing interim-, program- and project management for typical large corporates and in various sectors. Currently, Robert is developing his academic skills and is active as Research Associate with the Foundation Center of Technology and Innovation Management (CeTIM) affiliated to Leiden University and UniBw Munchen, and the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Part of his PhD-project focusing on Leadership, Organizational Learning, Transition Management, Networked Organizations, P3M, Action Research, Living Labs all around the theme of “Transition Management and Learning – A Path for Strategic Leadership Towards Project Management 2030”.

 18.03.2021 at 10:00 CET
Keynote Speech “Smart Cities: Palestinian Perspective”

Naji Shamasna was born in Ramallah, Palestine, in 1985. He is an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) professional with over 13 years of experience in Safety and Health
Management in both Palestine and the United states.

Currently he works with Bayti Real Estate investment as the Senior health and safety manager for the development of Rawabi city, his experience includes conducting process safety management inspections for compliance with 29 CFR 1910 and 1926, Naji worked for AECOM (USAID projects -Palestine) as a Senior health and safety manager for their projects in Palestine, supporting multiple high risk, critical projects. And with the American Pan enterprises in the USA managing their projects with a team of 36 safety officer for sites of 3,000 workers. Naji Shamasna has driven initiatives for increased Health and safety in the
construction industry.

He received the OSHA 502 from university of south Florida and the OSHA 500 from Red
Rocks Community College.

 18.03.2021 at 10:00 CET
Keynote Speech “Smart Cities: Palestinian Perspective”

Born in Hebron, Palestine. An accomplished professional with seven years of experience in the management and operation. Currently she is the manager of a large-scale facility management division in Bayti Real estate investment the developer of Rawabi city. A member of the board of directors for gas cooperate gas distribution company PalGaz. Since 2018.

Hadeel has expertise in planning, problem solving, decision making, team building and public relations in a highly complicated and challenging economic and political contexts.
She has a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from Birzeit university. Mini MBA from tuck schools of business and finished an executive education from Harvard in leadership.

 18.03.2021 at 10:00 CET
Keynote Speech “Smart Cities: Palestinian Perspective”

Born in 1989 in Palestine, have a PhD in public law in 2017, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law / Al-Quds University since 2013, Chair of the Community Relations Committee at the Faculty of Law, member of the Committee for Recruiting Financial Support in the Faculty of Law, and a member of the International Academic Initiative Anti-Corruption (ACAD) with the Center for the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption in the State of Qatar, a practicing lawyer at the Palestinian Regular Bar Association, a feminist activist, and an expert in the directory of Palestinian women experts with regard to women’s and children’s rights and the law.

She has many published articles, worked as a part-time professor at the AL-Ahliyya University of Palestine, represented Palestine in the Arab Women Organization, owner of the Palestinian Awareness Foundation for Human Rights, and participated in many conferences inside and outside the country, and a member of (Erasmus plus) within the legal team. Member of Municipal council in Rawabi.

 18.03.2021 at 13:30 CET
Ideas from Dortmund: a Dialogue

Head of “Urban Policy Guidelines / CIO”, Lord Mayor’s Office at City of Dortmund.
Main topics: Digital metropolis, international relations, metropolitan development, science & talent, housing, traffic change, shopping districts, nightlife, climate technologies & work, children.

 18.03.2021 at 14:00 CET
Ideas from Trondheim: a Dialogue

Bassam Hussein is an associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, the Norwegian of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. He is the author or the co-author of more than 70 publications in project management. His research interests include topics such as; project success, project complexity, blended learning, agile development and project-based learning. Hussein has more than 20 years of experience as educator, advisor, lecturer and speaker in the field of project management. During his career, he has participated in the design, development, and implementation of a wide range of customized educational programs in project management for the public as well as the private sector. In 2016 he was selected among the top ten exceptional lecturers in Norway by the newspaper Morgenbladet.

 18.03.2021 at 14:00 CET
Ideas from Trondheim: a Dialogue

 18.03.2021 at 14:30 CET
Doctoral Workshop Chairing

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lydia Kaiser
Since March 2021 Lydia Kaiser is professor of Digital Engineering 4.0 at the Technische Universität Berlin and the Einstein Center Digital Future. She studied Physics at the Paderborn University and received her Ph.D. 2013 in the field of Model-Based Systems Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Jürgen Gausemeier. Lydia Kaiser was research associate for three years at the chair Product Engineering at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute of the Paderborn University. In 2012, she changed to the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Systems Design in Paderborn. In the research department of Prof. Roman Dumitrescu she was group leader and from 2018 to 2021 head of the devision Systems Engineering together with Dr. Harald Anacker.

 19.03.2021 at 09:30 CET
Ideas from Bilbao: a Dialogue

Born in Bilbao in 1961. He has lived, studied, and worked in the area. MsC in Engineering and Doctor in Project Management, he has worked in industry and consultancy. Since 2001 he is assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao. He is interested in Project Management, Innovation and Sustainability.

19.03.2021 at 09:30 CET
Ideas from Bilbao: a Dialogue

Born in Bilbao in 1992. She holds a MsC in Architecture. She has worked in United Kingdom as an architect and is now devoted to implementation of BIM in industrial buildings, working for a Spanish multinational. She is interested in environmental care.

 19.03.2021 at 11:30 CET
Workshop “Defining Project Analytics”

Dr Nigel L. Williams, PMP is the Reader in Project Management and Research Lead in the Organizations and Systems Management Subject Group at the University of Portsmouth. His research has examined Project Capability development, Project stakeholder interactions using social network analysis and Event Project Management. His publications are available HERE He currently co-leads the Responsible Project Management initiative at www.ResponsiblePM.com to encourage societal value creation (Sustainability and Social Responsibility) in an ethical manner by Project Managers. The RPM team works with academia (UK, Europe and Asia), industry associations (APM & PMI) and NGOs (Association for sustainability practitioners). We have engaged in a collaborative program of education, research and public engagement in the form of the Responsible PM Forum (2018 and 2019), the development of a guide to Responsible Project Management and a Manifesto that has encouraged researchers and practitioners to incorporate sustainability and social value into their current practice.

 19.03.2021 at 13:30 CET
Ideas from Lithuania: a Dialogue

Elena Vitkauskaitė is a Researcher of Digitalisation Research Group, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. She works on various research and study projects related to e-Business, e-Government, Digital Transformation and funded by the Lithuanian government and European Commission (e.g., H2020, 6th Framework, Interreg IVC, Erasmus+, DAAD). In 2018-2021 Elena served as an Expert at EU Observatory on Online Platform Economy at European Commission. Current research interests related to cross-cultural issues on the web, social network sites, gamification, internet of things impact on business models. Ms. Vitkauskaitė is also a Lecturer of Marketing at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. She delivers courses related to Digital Marketing and Digital Transformation from Bachelor to executive MBA level students. She led student teams multiple times to become winners of global digital marketing competitions such as Google Online Marketing Challenge and Global Online Marketing Academic Challenge.

 19.03.2021 at 13:30 CET
Ideas from Lithuania: a Dialogue

Mantas Vilkas is a researcher at IN4ACT ERA Chair team in the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology and a Professor in Operations and Technology Management and a member of the Digitalisation Research Group in the School of Economics and Business at the Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. His current research and teaching focus on the complementarity of operational excellence methods, digital technologies, and data analysis methods. He is a representative of Lithuania in European manufacturing survey, a network of EU universities, collecting comprehensive data on the diffusion of organizational and technological innovations across Europe. His publications appeared in such journals as the Learning organization, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence.

 19.03.2021 at 14:40 CET
Presentation from IEEE TEMS (Germany Chapter) “Human interactions in a highly networked world – are human interactions facilitated with or by technology and what are the challenges?”

Dr. Thomas Holzmann represents the German Chapter of IEEE Technology Engineering Management and contributes to international IEEE conference series since 2012. His professional focus lies in project management and IT consulting with agile, classical and hybrid methodologies. Academically he is specialized in innovation management, entrepreneurship and network economics.

 19.03.2021 at 17:00 CET
Panel Discussion “Unique Cultural Perspectives”

Dr. Alexia Nalewaik FRICS CCP CCA has over 25 years of internationally recognized experience in audit, risk management, project controls, and cost estimating. She holds degrees in physics, civil engineering, and project management. Dr. Alexia has written two books on project-related topics (“Project Cost Recording and Reporting” and “Project Performance Review”), and published over 100 research papers and technical guidance. She is a Fellow of RICS Americas, AACE International, the Guild of Project Controls, and ICEC; she is a Past President of AACE International, and a Past Chair of ICEC. For more information, see ResearchGate and www.pellucidprojects.com.

 20.03.2021 at 09:30 CET
Keynote Speech “Australian Smart City Projects and Impacts”

Dr. Arezoo Shirazi is a Lecturer and a member of the Centre for Informatics Research and Innovation at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), School of Built Environment. Her research is focused on utilizing disruptive technologies and system-level analysis to enhance the efficiency, sustainability and equity of the built environment. In 2020, she has received the city of Sydney innovation grant to improve commercial buildings’ energy consumption and environmental comfort levels of occupants using portable micro-climate sensors and a feedback mobile application.
Prior to joining UTS, Arezoo was a researcher at the Economics of the Sustainable Built Environment (ESBE) Lab at Georgia Tech where she worked closely with partners in industry, research and government and participated in various research projects, including the participatory modelling of complex urban infrastructure systems of the City of Atlanta to bring smart and sustainable solutions to real world urban problems.

 20.03.2021 at 11:50 CET
Ideas from Belgium: a Dialogue

Peter Arras, born in Lier, Belgium on 10 January 1964, obtained his degree in electro-mechanical engineering, option automation in 1985 from the Katholieke Industriële Hogeschool De Nayer. In 2014 he got his PhD-degree in the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (Slovak Republic) on the subject “Teaching the technical university course “modern materials and technologies”.

Peter Arras is senior lecturer in the faculty of engineering technology of KU Leuven in bachelor and master degree courses on design methods, and numerical methods for mechanical design (FEA, CAE).
Peter Arras is in charge of international relations for the department of engineering technology at campus De Nayer and in charge of student and teacher mobility.

He is member of departmental and faculty boards on international relations.
Since 2017 he is faculty policy coordinator for exchange studies and internationalisation at home.

He is active in many international educational projects (as contact person and coordinator of previous and current European projects).
During the different projects and in bilateral cooperation Dr Arras was many times guest lecturer in different universities in Germany, Slovak Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Armenia.

 20.03.2021 at 11:50 CET
Ideas from Belgium: a Dialogue

Ing. Dirk Van Merode MSc finished his engineering studies in Electronics in 2002. His first educational experience was in secondary education, to earn his pedagogy degree. Dirk later moved to Lessius University College, currently renamed Thomas More University College, in 2007, to take up a teaching and research assignment. Since 2018 Dirk works as a lecturer and research engineer at AP University College in Antwerp. His field of expertise is in Internet-of-Things, digital systems design, printed circuit board design and production, embedded systems and audio-video production. Research topics are mainly in European projects, both on curriculum development and student and staff mobility with countries outside the EU. He also did research in space applications and satellite development. He was partner and coordinator of numerous international projects. He was guest professor and advisor in numerous European, Asian and African universities.
Dirk Van Merode is currently a coordinator of an Erasmus+ KA2 Capacity Building for Higher Education project, named ACTEA: Applied Curricula in Technology for East Africa. The ACTEA project aims to fulfil the specific needs in engineering, provide better skills matching with the local labour market, deliver course material in 2 specializations, Computer Aided Manufacturing Technology and Electrical Engineering & Automation and, establish technologic laboratories, with virtual and remote accessibility, establish learning tools, give academic staff and students additional training on technology and in developing technologic course material according to EU standards.

He is also partner in in Erasmus+ KA2 SPACECOM: New study program in space systems and communications engineering