Keynote: Christopher Lafayette

Christopher Lafayette, an influential emergent technologist, speaker, and humanitarian from Silicon Valley, is making remarkable strides in the metaverse, AI, medtech, and Web 2.5 + sectors. He established Gatherverse to merge technology and human experience, ensuring every digital innovation reflects and caters to the aspirations of its users. He also founded HoloPractice, merging healthcare and technology. With advisory roles in organizations like Google, Meta, the European Commission, and multiple universities, Lafayette consistently advocates for the integration of humanity in technological progress.

Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson has more than twenty five years of IT experience, majority of which have been directly in cybersecurity.  She has worked in various industries including manufacturing, higher education, financial services and most recently reinsurance.  She has served in all capacities of security, including the role of Chief Information Security Officer.  Erica is currently the VP of the Global Security and Privacy Risk Management for RGA.  In this role, she serves as a key advisor for the organization regarding technology risks and leads and dynamic team of professionals that ensure security and privacy issues are effectively addressed and managed. In her spare time, Erica serves on various advisory boards and works to advocate for women working in tech.

Elizabeth Bierman

Elizabeth Bierman is the Vice President of Engineering for Comcast Twin Cities Region. She is responsible for the overall technical vision and strategic direction of the engineering department focused on capacity bandwidth, network reliability and expansion. Elizabeth leads the engineering organization in four states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri, who construct, design, architect and maintain Comcast’s network.

Prior to Comcast, Elizabeth was a senior technical manager for Honeywell Aerospace in Minneapolis. She oversaw the test solutions for navigation, sensors and lighting. She was with Honeywell for 13 years in a variety of roles in systems engineering, customer support and program management.

Elizabeth has been involved with the Society of Women Engineers since 1994. She served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and FY15 President. Elizabeth was inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2015 and named a New York Moves Power Woman in 2016.

Brooke Donilon

Brooke Donilon has worked at NCTA – the Internet and Television Association as Vice President, Government Relations for five years. Prior to joining NCTA Donilon worked at the FCC where she was the Chief of Staff for Commissioner Michael O’Rielly. Brooke also served six years with the U.S. Congress where she was Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Ron Johnson. As Deputy Chief, she managed the Senator’s office and oversaw the Senator’s communications work on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Before that, she served as Chief Counsel for Homeland Security for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs under Chairman Johnson. Brooke was also Legislative Counsel to Congressman Cliff Stearns where she handled his communications work on the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Brooke received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Journalism and Mass Communication and American Studies. She has two children, a daughter, Maxwell (age 4) and son, Merritt (age 2).