Key Speakers

Naima Kaabouch

Dr. Naima Kaabouch is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor at the University of North Dakota (UND), where she also directs the Artificial Intelligence Research (AIR) Center. Her research interests include artificial intelligence, wireless communications and networks, cybersecurity, sensing technologies, and autonomous systems. She has authored and co-authored more than 275 peer-reviewed publications, books, and patents. Her research has been supported by agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Dr. Kaabouch is recognized for her contributions to research, innovation, teaching, and mentorship.

Amadou Diawara

Mr. Amadou Diawara is a Franco-Malian entrepreneur, digital transformation expert, and international speaker driving innovation across Africa. He is the President and Founder of Cluster Digital Africa, President of FAMIB Group, and Founder of CIRTIC and the Maison de l’Intelligence Artificielle – Mali. His expertise spans artificial intelligence, digital transformation, fintech, blockchain, information systems, and technological innovation. Through his leadership, he fosters digital sovereignty, entrepreneurship, skills development, financial inclusion, and human-centered innovation. His vision is to build lasting bridges between Africa and global technology ecosystems, transforming talent, technology, and collective intelligence into opportunities for sustainable development.

Prof. BEN LAHMAR El Habib is a Professor of Computer Science at the Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca, where he has been teaching and conducting research since 2008 as a member of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. From an academic perspective, he coordinated the Master’s program in “Data Science & Big Data” from 2016 to 2022, before taking on the coordination of the Master of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. At the institutional and scientific levels, he leads the “Semantic Web and Knowledge Engineering” research team within the TIM Laboratory, where he currently serves as Deputy Director. His research activities cover key areas of Artificial Intelligence, including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, Data Science, and Knowledge Graphs. He is the author of a patent in the fields of NLP and Knowledge Graphs and actively contributes to the international scientific community as a speaker and reviewer for several leading journals, while also engaging in R&D projects in collaboration with industry.

Prof. Mouhsine Lakhdissi is a versatile and passionate professional who has managed to combine several careers within the tech industry. As a university professor, he teaches and helps train future professionals. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded several start-ups and tech companies, showing his commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. As a speaker, he shares his expertise and knowledge on various technology and innovation topics. As a mentor and business angel, he helps entrepreneurs bring their projects to life. Finally, as a researcher in AI and Digital fields, he contributes to research and applied research, publishing work and patenting innovations.