Keynote Speakers

In a world that is transforming digitally, cybersecurity is both a line of defense and a vulnerability for many organizations. While big corporations can afford to be protected, smaller organizations and the public sector, which make up the majority of the economies of the world, are becoming extremely vulnerable every passing day. Artificial intelligence is rattling the battlefield, providing ammunition to both sides. We at the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence focus our efforts on educating and creating awareness in sectors ranging from energy to health. We have worked closely with the US Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, and other national and local agencies to identify technological gaps and R&D opportunities in the cybersecurity field through technology roadmaps. This talk will provide insight to these efforts.

The next industrial revolution will not be defined solely by smarter technologies, but by our ability to engineer systems that are intelligent, resilient, and sustainable. As organizations navigate unprecedented challenges, from climate change and resource scarcity to supply chain disruptions and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), there is an urgent need to rethink how engineering systems are designed, managed, and transformed.

This keynote presents a vision for the convergence of AI, digital supply chains, and circular economy principles as the foundation of sustainable industrial transformation. Drawing on my research and international collaborations in sustainable operations, digital transformation, Industry 4.0/5.0, and circular economy, the talk will illustrate how systems thinking, digital twins, blockchain, and AI-enabled decision intelligence can create adaptive and human-centric industrial ecosystems. Through examples from manufacturing and global supply networks, the keynote will demonstrate how engineering innovation can simultaneously enhance resilience, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship. It concludes by outlining a future research agenda for Engineering Sustainable and Intelligent Systems, highlighting opportunities for academia, industry, and policymakers to co-create resilient, circular, and technology-enabled societies.