ICAIR 2025
5th International Conference on AI Research
Biographies
Below are the ICAIR Biographies of the Conference and Programme Chairs, Key Note Speakers and Mini-Track Chairs.
Conference and Programme Chairs
Renata Paola Dameri has been a professor of Business Economics at the University of Genoa since 1999 and is currently Vice-Rector for International Affairs. Graduated in Management in 1990 with a thesis on artificial intelligence and decision support systems in business, her research interests have since focused on information systems, smart cities, intellectual capital and technological investments. She has been a visiting professor at the Université Paris Dauphine in Paris and at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She collaborates with supranational institutions such as the European Union and the OECD, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and with local institutions such as the Municipality of Genoa and the Metropolitan City of Genoa. She is the director of the Master in Entrepreneurship, of the advanced course in Smart city and of the Innovation Hub in tourism and cultural heritage.
Keynote Speakers
Valentina Di Gregorio is Professor of Private Law at University of Genoa, Department of Law (DIGI) and she is a lawyer since 1991. She is coordinator of the degree course in Social Service and Social Policy at the University of Genoa where she is also Director of the master on Family Mediation and member of the Board of the High School for legal professions. She is Member of the Board of National PhD course on Bioengineering and Robotics, and of Italian Center of Excellence for Logistics, Transport and Infrastructure (CIELI). She is coordinator and member of many international and national research projects and author of numerous works on contracts, torts, family law, legal profiles of AI and new technologies. She is a conference chair and speaker at various conferences on the these topics.
Lorenzo Rosasco is a professor at the University of Genova. He is a visiting scientist at the Italian Technological Institute (IIT). He is a founder and serves as a coordinator of the Machine Learning Genova center (MaLGa) and the Laboratory for Computational and Statistical Learning, focusing on the theory, algorithms, and applications of machine learning. He obtained his PhD in 2006 from the University of Genova and was a visiting student at the Center for Biological and Computational Learning at MIT, the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTI-Chicago), and the Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics. From 2006 to 2013, he worked as a postdoc and research scientist at the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department at MIT. He is a fellow at Ellis and serves as the co-director of the “Theory, Algorithms and Computations of Modern Learning Systems” program as well as the Ellis Genoa unit. Lorenzo has received several awards, including an ERC consolidator grant.
Daniela Mancini is full professor of Performance Measurement and Business Analytics at the Department of Law of the University of Teramo, where she is Dean of the PhD programme in Economic and Social Sciences and directs the Msc in Law, Economics and Business Strategy. Before joining the University of Teramo, she was a member of the faculty at the Parthenope University of Naples, the University of Macerata, the University Politecnica delle Marche, and the University of Pisa. She received her PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pisa, and was visiting professor at IESEG School of Management, and the Université Catholique de Lille. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Academy of Business Administration (AIDEA) with responsibility for training, European projects, and relations with scientific societies. She is a member of the Italian Society of Professors in Accounting and Business Administration (SIDREA), and the National Association of Administrative and Financial Directors (ANDAF), where she is a member of the I&CT Committee. Her research focuses on management control and performance measurement, at the intersection of digital technologies, sustainability and carbon reporting, business model innovation, and technology transfer in private and public companies, particularly in the agri-food and aerospace sectors. Her research has been published in prestigious national and international journals in the areas of accounting, management, and information systems
Mini Track Chairs
Dean Cristol, Ph.D., executive director, Educators for All LLC. Columbus, OH focuses on educational technology professional development within marginalized educational settings, aiming to equip both students and teachers with culturally responsive skills for technology-driven learning environments. Engages in research initiatives funded by international, national, state, and private foundation grants. Contributes extensively to academic discourse through publications in numerous journals, authoring books and chapters, and presenting findings at international, national, and state conferences. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Theory Into Practice journal and is Vice President for the International Association for Mobile Learning, showcasing their commitment to advancing scholarly dialogue and professional development in educational technology on a global scale. Nicholas Giester, MBA, more than 20 years of experience in public and private sector industries of IT, specializing in delivering technological solutions to business partners focused on the automation and improvement of vital business operations, as well as adeptly navigating organizational culture. He is highly skilled in evaluating the compatibility of existing infrastructure and software with fundamental business services, offering strategic guidance on investing in technologies like artificial intelligence or deciding on divestitures to meet business objectives. He excels at building and sustaining critical relationships, enabling him to manage crises efficiently, troubleshoot issues, and broker solutions effectively.
Nicholas Giester, MBA, more than 20 years of experience in public and private sector industries of IT, specializing in delivering technological solutions to business partners focused on the automation and improvement of vital business operations, as well as adeptly navigating organizational culture. He is highly skilled in evaluating the compatibility of existing infrastructure and software with fundamental business services, offering strategic guidance on investing in technologies like artificial intelligence or deciding on divestitures to meet business objectives. He excels at building and sustaining critical relationships, enabling him to manage crises efficiently, troubleshoot issues, and broker solutions effectively.
Belinda G. Gimbert, Ph.D., associate professor, Educational Administration, Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Her research addresses a broad array of human capital policies that impact talent management in low performing K-12 school systems and influence the composition, distribution, and quality of educators in the workforce. Gimbert teaches course related to human resource administration, introduction to educational administration, and K-12 instructional supervision focusing on using AI and mobile learning technologies. She also directs two national projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition.
Dr. Mitt Nowshade Kabir is an adjunct professor of Digital Transformation at Ecole de Management Léonard De Vinci. He is a serial entrepreneur, knowledge evangelist, business accelerator, and an investor. Dr. Kabir has a master’s degree in computer science, an MBA, a Ph.D. in Information Technology, and a DBA in Management. His current interests include AI, innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management.
Raeal Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director of Evaluation Data Solutions, LLC. She specializes in providing comprehensive, high-quality research, evaluation, and assessment services to deliver reliable and accurate information about the implementation and outcomes of programs and projects. She uses mixed methods approaches to answer programmatic questions. She understands that a credible and comprehensive evaluation is critically important to provide program decision-makers with timely, evaluation results. With 20 years’ experience, Raeal spends time strengthening the evaluation capacity and practice of organizations. Moore earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Quantitative Research, Evaluation, and Measurement at Ohio State University.
Catherine A. Okonkwo is a Nigerian writer, researcher, and information specialist with a Higher National Diploma in Library and Information Science. She has authored multiple books and academic articles, and has presented research on topics including artificial intelligence in education in collaboration with the University of Essex, UK. Catherine is a member of the IFLA, the YALI Network, and several academic and professional networks. She is passionate about advancing knowledge through research, teaching, and global collaboration.
Pardis M. Tehrani, PhD, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Law School at the University of Sunderland, UK. Her research interests lie at the intersection of information technology law and international law, with a growing focus on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies within legal systems. Her current work explores the legal, ethical, and regulatory challenges posed by AI in both domestic and international contexts. She is the author and co-author of over 70 papers and has delivered talks at various panels, NGOs, research centres, and international organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other human rights bodies. She has also successfully secured internal and international research funding from a range of organisations across China, Malaysia, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.