Archives: Speakers

Naveen Gangwar leads the Solution Consulting team for Planning at Workday EMEA. He has extensive experience, having helped over 200 companies with the sale and deployment of Accounting, Finance, and Planning solutions.

Dr. Michael Blumenfeld is a recognized expert in lubrication science and tribology with a career dedicated to advancing industrial performance. He earned his BA in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Arizona, where he focused on the fundamental principles that underpin modern lubrication technology.  A Certified Lubrication Specialist, Dr. Blumenfeld has spent more than 15 years designing high-performance lubricants for demanding applications—from wind turbines operating in harsh environments to race cars pushing the limits of speed and endurance.  He is an active member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), contributing his expertise to advance industry standards and best practices. In his current role as OEM Technology Advisor, he partners with major industrial equipment manufacturers to solve complex lubrication challenges.

Robert Roome has 20 years of experience in wealth management and private banking, working for companies specialising in technology, wealth management and management consulting.

He previously worked at Wealth Dynamix, as well as at companies such as Barclays and RBS, and more recently in wealth management and private banking at management consultancy Sionic.

This extensive experience puts him in a unique position to support the acceleration of commercial, technological and human performance.

Jack is CEO and a co-founder of Templi, an agentic financial planning software that focuses primarily on writing suitability reports. Before Templi, Jack worked in wealth management for over 5 years, spending time in the largest wealth firm in Ireland: Davy Group, Evelyn Partners in Newcastle upon Tyne and a small IFA in Belfast. Outside of work he is a lifelong rugby player and a very mediocre golfer.

Yawwani Gunawardana is a seasoned AI leader with a PhD in Machine Learning and over a decade of experience driving innovation in financial services. As Group Head of AI at Quilter, she spearheads the firm’s AI transformation—building scalable, ethical AI systems that accelerate business value. Previously at JP Morgan, she led global teams to deliver cutting-edge GenAI and Graph AI solutions.

Yawwani holds multiple industrial patents, has published extensively in AI and computational biology, and is a recognized voice in tech forums such as Women in Data and SheCanCode. Her leadership blends deep technical expertise with a passion for responsible AI, governance, and talent development.

Laxminarayan Bhat, PhD, is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Reviva Pharmaceuticals. The company has advanced under Dr. Bhat’s leadership with a portfolio of propriety compounds at different stages in a pipeline encompassing central nervous system (CNS), cardiometabolic, and immune disorders. Dr. Bhat has over 25 years of experience in translational research and development in pharmaceutical industry, and prior to founding Reviva, he held research positions at XenoPort, ARYx Therapeutics, and Higuchi Biosciences Center in the United States. Dr. Bhat conducted extensive graduate and post-graduate training in medicinal chemistry in India, France, Germany, and USA. Dr. Bhat has published over 25 research papers in peer reviewed international journals and has given several invited lectures/presentations in national and international conferences. Dr. Bhat is an inventor on over 100 granted patents and contributed to multiple investigational new drugs (IND) and a US FDA approved new drug (NDA) currently in the market worldwide.

Email: Lbhat@revivapharma.com

Website: www.revivapharma.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 
 
Since 2025 Deputy Head of Sales at FOGTEC, Business Unit Rail Systems 
 
2015-2025 Area Sales Manager at FOGTEC, Business Unit Rail Systems 
 
2008 – 2015 Key Account Manager at FOGTEC, Business Unit Rail Systems 
 
2006 – 2008 Electrical engineer at Stadler Bussnang AG in the railway sector, responsible for fire 
 
protection systems and event recording 
 
 TRAINING 
 
2010-2013 Executive MBA in General Management, Berner Fachhochschule, Management Zentrum, 
 
Bern (Switzerland). 
 
2001 – 2006 Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), MSc. In Electrical and 
 
Electronic Engineering. 
 
 LANGUAGES 
 
French: mother tongue 
 
German: bilingual: fluent in spoken and written German 
 
English: good oral and written level 
 
Spanish: average level, oral and written. 
 
 INTERESTS 
 
– member of the Board of SwissEngineering, division TransJura 
 
– Nature, outdoor sports (skiing, trail running, mountain biking)

Industry leader in advanced fire protection solutions for the railway sector. With a strong track record in delivering high-performance detection and suppression systems for new and existing rolling stock, he drives Triple E’s strategic growth through innovation, customer-focused solutions, and operational excellence. His expertise provides a forward-looking perspective on market trends, emerging technologies, and the key opportunities shaping the future of railway fire safety.