MEET OUR 2026
Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Kathleen Walch
Director, AI Engagement and Community, PMI
Kathleen focuses on advancing practical, responsible AI adoption across the project management profession. In this role, Kathleen works at the intersection of education, community, and real‑world practice to help professionals confidently lead AI‑enabled initiatives.
Kathleen joins PMI from the Cognilytica acquisition. At Cognilytica, Kathleen co-developed the Cognitive Project Management for AI (CPMAI) methodology that is in use by Fortune 1000 firms and government agencies worldwide to successfully run and manage their AI and advanced data projects. Adopted by dozens of multinational organizations, dozens of government agencies, and NGOs, CPMAI is quickly becoming the standard methodology for AI project management best practices. Kathleen is CPMAI+E Certified.
Amber Field
Chief Operating Officer, Strudel.AI
Amber Field is the Chief Operating Officer at Strudel AI, a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of the book, Agile Discovery & Delivery: A Survival Guide for New Software Engineers & Tech Entrepreneurs. She has been an executive leader in tech, agile proponent, and engineer for her entire career at a number of organizations including IBM, National Geographic, Oracle Utilities (formerly Opower), Capital One, and Singlewire Software. Amber frequently speaks at conferences and blogs at amberrfield.com. She lives in Madison, WI.
Carlos Rojas
Global Technology Executive
Global technology executive with 20+ years of experience leading AI-enabled platforms, cloud infrastructure, and engineering organizations at Fortune 100 companies.
Specialized in AI enablement, embedding intelligence into reliability engineering, cloud platforms, and mission-critical systems to improve decision-making.
Recognized for building high-performing teams and delivering solutions that serve 100M+ users worldwide. Co-author of Reliability Engineering in the Cloud and keynote speaker.
Charlie Kennedy
Director of Emerging Technologies, HNB
With over 16 years serving the Federal Government sector and 25+ years of leadership experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications industries, Teri Musick possesses a wide range of experience providing leadership, program account management, project delivery, and implementing end-to-end business technology solutions.
TBD
Principle ML Data Scientist, Capital One
Pri Oberoi (she/they) is a hands-on machine learning leader who has built impactful, use-case-focused statistical, machine learning, and deep learning solutions across consulting, start-ups, government and non-profits over the past decade. Most recently, Pri built the ML practice at Axios HQ from the ground-up, authored their patent, and established a data flywheel as the customer base grew to > 700 companies. Pri manages data science portfolios with an emphasis on user experience, close collaboration with SMEs, automated task-evaluation, and monitoring pipelines. Throughout their career, Pri has prioritized finding ways to make tech a more welcoming space for queer folks, women of color and other underrepresented identities.
Larry Taxson
Chief Growth Officer, CIA
With over 20 years of experience, Jessica specializes in driving innovation, building momentum, and delivering growth through strategic Product, Design, and AI leadership. She bridges the gap between business, engineering, and data science to create strategies that transform teams and deliver exceptional results.
Chris Sims
Founder, Agile Learning Labs
Chris Sims is a certified scrum trainer, agile coach, and recovering C++ developer who helps organizations improve their productivity and happiness. Chris is the founder of Agile Learning Labs and the co-author of two best-selling scrum books: The Elements of Scrum and Scrum: a Breathtakingly Brief and Agile Introduction. More of their writing can be found on the Agile Learning Labs blog. Before starting Agile Learning Labs in 2007, Chris made a living in roles such as: scrum master, product owner, engineering manager, project manager, software engineer, musician, and auto mechanic.
AI Panel
Kathleen Walch
Director, AI Engagement and Community, PMI
Kathleen focuses on advancing practical, responsible AI adoption across the project management profession. In this role, Kathleen works at the intersection of education, community, and real‑world practice to help professionals confidently lead AI‑enabled initiatives.
Kathleen joins PMI from the Cognilytica acquisition. At Cognilytica, Kathleen co-developed the Cognitive Project Management for AI (CPMAI) methodology that is in use by Fortune 1000 firms and government agencies worldwide to successfully run and manage their AI and advanced data projects. Adopted by dozens of multinational organizations, dozens of government agencies, and NGOs, CPMAI is quickly becoming the standard methodology for AI project management best practices. Kathleen is CPMAI+E Certified.
Stacey Reinke-Bui
Visionary Leader, AI Governance, PMI
Stacey (Hang) Reinke-Bui is a visionary leader at the intersection of Enterprise AI Governance and Strategic Project Management. As a PMI Region 5 Mentor, she orchestrates strategy and operational alignment for 14 chapters across the Mid-Atlantic, representing over 12,000 project professionals.
Stacey is one of only 13 world-wide Subject Matter Experts selected by PMI Global to define and communicate the industry standard for the Certified Professional in Managing AI (CPMAI) credential, directly contributing to the framework that will certify the next generation of AI practitioners. Her current portfolio includes serving as a Global PMIxAI Champion, where she pilots AI adoption strategies and translates complex frameworks—such as Zero Trust Architecture, 7 Patterns of AI and 6 phases of implementation—into actionable enterprise roadmaps.
With a professional background spanning from writing foreign language policy at the Pentagon to leading high-stakes digital transformations for the U.S. Coast Guard, Stacey brings a people first mindset to organizational resilience and adoption. She is currently advancing her expertise in Systems Thinking (STSI) through Cabrera Research Lab (Cornell University), further refining her ability to navigate the path to value and success in complex, high-achieving enterprise environments.
George Fountain
IT Project Manager & AI Strategist
Veteran U.S. Army officer, IT Project Manager, and AI Readiness Strategist with more than 20 years of experience leading complex technology initiatives across federal and commercial sectors. In 2025, he was recognized as a Black Engineer of the Year at his former firm, Booz Allen, for his leadership and impact in emerging technology delivery.
He is the creator of the StAIR-Ready™ framework, a structured AI readiness model aligned with CPMAI methodology and NIST AI governance principles. Over the course of his career, George has led hundreds of IT projects, including nearly 50 AI-focused initiatives spanning automation, machine learning enablement, and AI-assisted operational workflows.
George also builds and experiments with AI-powered SaaS tools, actively testing practical applications of generative AI in real-world project environments. His work centers on helping PMOs and executive teams move beyond experimentation to disciplined, risk-aware AI adoption—reducing administrative burden, strengthening governance, improving reporting integrity, and identifying risks earlier in the project lifecycle.
His approach is pragmatic and execution-focused. Rather than theoretical transformation narratives, George equips leaders with structured methods to make AI operational, measurable, and governed within the constraints of existing teams and tools.
A member of the PMI Silver Spring, MD Chapter, he is committed to helping today’s project professionals adapt their leadership models to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Tareka Wheeler
Chief Troublemaker, Microsoft
Currently at her day job, she’s running 100 experiments as the Chief Troublemaker of the Microsoft AI and Copilot Extensibility Program. Her goal is that people all over the world can use Microsoft’s AI and Copilot programs to reason over their OWN data and truly make AI useful for their business.
Previously, Dona led the Accessibility tech program at Microsoft, implementing Generative AI in her products in an inclusive way. She also led the #WindowsInsiders program (20 million people globally) and worked on advocacy for the Metaverse via HoloLens and low-code development via Microsoft’s Power Platform.
Executive Panel
Sanjiv Augustine (Moderator)
Senior Manager of Project Portfolio, Sands Capital
Sabrina Iqbal is a dynamic and results-driven leader with over a decade of experience in project and portfolio management, strategic planning, and agile transformation. Currently serving as the Senior Manager of Project Portfolio at Sands Capital Management, Sabrina oversees the Enterprise Project Portfolio, ensuring strategic alignment, driving measurable value, and fostering continuous improvement. She has reshaped the project management ecosystem, established the Agile Center of Excellence within the Project Management Office, developed frameworks for high-impact initiatives, and effectively communicates with executive leaders to ensure strategic alignment.
Carlos Rojas
Global Technology Executive
Global technology executive with 20+ years of experience leading AI-enabled platforms, cloud infrastructure, and engineering organizations at Fortune 100 companies.
Specialized in AI enablement, embedding intelligence into reliability engineering, cloud platforms, and mission-critical systems to improve decision-making.
Recognized for building high-performing teams and delivering solutions that serve 100M+ users worldwide. Co-author of Reliability Engineering in the Cloud and keynote speaker.
Amber Field
Chief Operating Officer, Strudel.AI
Amber Field is the Chief Operating Officer at Strudel AI, a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of the book, Agile Discovery & Delivery: A Survival Guide for New Software Engineers & Tech Entrepreneurs. She has been an executive leader in tech, agile proponent, and engineer for her entire career at a number of organizations including IBM, National Geographic, Oracle Utilities (formerly Opower), Capital One, and Singlewire Software. Amber frequently speaks at conferences and blogs at amberrfield.com. She lives in Madison, WI.
Charlie Kennedy
VP of Client Success at Arch Systems
