Meet the Grand Jury Panel of the
Noble Technology Awards Panel

Costa Rica

Daniel Montiel

Founder and Owner, Gitanos

Daniel Montiel is the founder and owner of Gitanos in Costa Rica, a renowned and leading agency specializing in brand building within the region.

As both the founder and owner, he offers expert counsel to numerous business clients across multiple countries in Latin America and the United States. He has applied his creative abilities to serve a wide array of clients, including major names like Coca-Cola Company, Jeep, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Costa Rica Brewery (Imperial Beer), Essential Costa Rica (country brand), and more.

Across his career, Montiel has displayed remarkable tenacity and an unwavering drive for success. He has achieved exceptional results, garnering over 60 prestigious international awards at some of the most renowned advertising festivals. Additionally, his thought leadership is evident through numerous publications in prominent blogs and advertising magazines, solidifying his status as a global authority in the fields of branding and design.

United States

Naresh Erukulla

Lead Data Engineer, Macy's Technology Inc

Naresh Erukulla is a highly skilled data engineering professional with over 10 years of experience in designing and implementing scalable, data-driven solutions that drive business transformation. As the Lead Data Engineer at Macy’s Inc., he plays a key role in shaping the company’s data strategy, ensuring data quality, and integrating machine learning models into data pipelines. His expertise spans cloud computing, big data analytics, Python, machine learning, and AI technologies, and he has led high-impact projects that have driven retail sales growth, improved customer acquisition rates, enhanced performance, and delivered cost-cutting solutions.

Naresh’s previous experience at Cognizant Technology Solutions and Sunmerge Systems Inc. includes leading data analytics and cloud migration projects, leveraging Google Cloud, Python, and business intelligence tools. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Science and is a Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer. Naresh has authored research in leading journals and is recognized as a thought leader in the field.

As a Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer, Naresh stays abreast of emerging trends in data engineering, AI, and machine learning, ensuring that his work remains at the forefront of innovation and technical rigor.

United States

Nikhil Ghadge

Software Architect, Okta.Inc

With over 10 years of experience in software engineering, Nikhil Ghadge has developed a strong passion for designing and implementing scalable, reliable, and secure software solutions that align with customer needs and expectations. His core competencies include software architecture, research skills, problem-solving, and leadership.

As a Software Architect Team Lead at Okta, Nikhil is driven by the mission of enabling organizations to use any technology. He is dedicated to contributing to Okta's vision of creating a more connected and inclusive world. In his current role, Nikhil is responsible for analyzing system requirements and developing software architecture specifications for Okta's Universal Directory, which manages millions of user and group profile data.

He also plays a key role in resolving issues related to software design, architecture, and implementation during the development cycle, while providing technical guidance to team members on complex projects. His contributions have been instrumental in delivering innovative solutions for complex technical problems and enhancing user experience and satisfaction.

United States

Aqsa Fulara

Product Manager , Google

Aqsa is an accomplished and seasoned product manager with 6+ years of experience, working on innovative products in business intelligence, leveraging artificial intelligence. She is passionate about solving customer and user problems through creative problem solving, human centered design and cutting edge technology. She has contributed to significant growth in AI products, and led new product development in business intelligence. She holds masters degree in engineering management; computer science undergrad, and several Cloud, Product management professionals and entrepreneurship certifications. She is also passionate about mentoring startups and community building for AI products.

United States

Gajendra Babu Thokala

Technical Lead, Apple

Gajendra Babu Thakola is a distinguished technology leader and technical lead at Apple, known for his extensive expertise in data engineering and real-time streaming technologies.

At Apple, he designs and implements advanced solutions using Apache Kafka and Apache Flink, pushing the boundaries of real-time data processing. His previous role as Senior Software Engineer Team Lead at Microsoft saw him make significant contributions to cloud data management and the development of robust SaaS platforms, showcasing his ability to drive innovation and achieve impactful outcomes.

In addition to his technical acumen, Gajendra brings a wealth of experience in team leadership, coaching engineers, and managing project planning and execution. He has a proven track record of effectively leading teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture, and ensuring successful project outcomes. His approach to team management focuses on mentorship, skill development, and creating an environment where team members can thrive and advance professionally.

United States

Siva Karthik Devineni

Senior Database Consultant, Elan Technologies

Siva Karthik Devineni, a highly experienced Database Consultant, brings a wealth of expertise to his work with eLan Technologies and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), where he plays a pivotal role in optimizing database systems and ensuring operational efficiency.

He optimizes data structures and streamlines information flow, enhancing efficiency in managing essential data processes. As a dedicated advocate for data security, he implements strong measures to protect sensitive information while designing innovative solutions that drive meaningful progress in Maryland. With expertise in business intelligence, he supports data-driven decision-making and ensures the smooth operation of integrated database systems.

An AI enthusiast with a passion for innovation, he keeps himself updated on emerging technologies, leveraging his knowledge to make meaningful contributions across various fields. Bringing his expertise in adjudicating, he navigates the intersection of technology, security, and impactful solutions, consistently driving forward-thinking outcomes with a dynamic and adaptable approach.

Chile

Pancho Gonzalez

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Inbrax

Páncho Gonzalez is the Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Inbrax.

In his capacity as Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of a branding company, Gonzalez leads the development of strategic, story-driven brand experiences that connect creativity with measurable impact. He oversees the creation of integrated campaigns across digital and physical platforms, guiding teams in transforming ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. His expertise spans branded content, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, marketing strategy, and full-funnel planning, allowing him to shape solutions that align brand vision with performance and long-term growth.

He is recognized with honors from international award programs and serves as a mentor with Acción Emprendedora, Female Foundry, and Red de Mentores. He also teaches as an MBA Professor at Miami Ad School and Universidad de Santiago de Chile, hosts the #IABDigitalTalks podcast, and coaches emerging talent through programs such as LIASON and D&AD.

United States

Mahesh Vankayala

Principle Software Engineer, Oracle America Inc

Mahesh Vankayala is a seasoned software engineer with nearly a decade of experience in developing robust web applications and cloud technologies. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to innovative problem-solving and delivering high-quality solutions across diverse sectors, including healthcare, finance, and retail.

Mahesh has held pivotal positions such as Principal Software Engineer at Oracle and Principal Software Consultant at Ascension Hospitals and Optum Services. In these roles, he has led code reviews, developed proofs of concept, and resolved complex technical roadblocks, ensuring the seamless delivery of scalable and reliable software solutions. His expertise lies in deploying and managing services on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and designing API specifications that drive performance and efficiency.

Ireland

Bilal Awan

CEO, Technical Director of iPing, Innovator, Entrepreneur and Public Speaker, PsycReality

Bilal Awan is the CEO of PsycReality, the technical director of iPing, a talented innovator, entrepreneur and a known public speaker.

In his role as a CEO, he strongly believes in the importance of contributing to the community and advancing humanity through the creation of innovative solutions using cutting-edge and immersive technologies. This commitment to leveraging emerging technologies not only defines his professional ethos but also underscores his personal dedication to making a positive impact on society. Whether it's pioneering new technologies or developing innovative approaches, he is driven by the goal of creating a better future for all.

His unwavering commitment to creating positive change is evident in his pursuit of opportunities, and his impressive list of accolades serves as a testament to his dedication and the tangible success he has achieved in this mission.

United States

Andrii Nikulin

Founder/ Lead engineer and Engineering Consultant, SMART-MECHTECH and Le&Co

Andrii Nikulin is the founder and lead engineer of SMART-MECHTECH LLC, a U.S.-based firm providing automation and AI-driven technologies to manufacturers nationwide.

His company specializes in engineering audits, modernizing mechanical systems, and integrating smart technologies to improve efficiency and cut costs. Previously, Andrii was Chief Mechanical Engineer at LE&CO Sausage Factory in the Czech Republic, where he automated a major production complex with robotics, quality control, and predictive maintenance—boosting capacity, reducing costs, and enabling EU expansion.

With over 11 years of experience, he has led cross-functional teams and projects across multiple countries with consistent success. A Senior Member of IEEE and Member of IET (UK), he also serves as an awards juror and publishes research on intelligent control systems, hybrid AI models, and industrial energy optimization.

Brazil

Vilmar Fernandes

Global UX/UI, Samsung

Vilmar Fernandes is a Global UX/UI Product professional at Samsung, bringing over 17 years of experience in the digital industry.

Vilmar Fernandes specializes in UX/UI, Product, Interface Design, Interactive Design, and Experience Design, bringing over 17 years of expertise in the digital industry. Over the years, he has collaborated with global brands such as Google, Motorola, Lenovo, LG, Coca-Cola, Bradesco, Natura, Danone Activia, Vivo, Nokia, Oi, MTV, Fox Sports, Claro, and many others. He has delivered projects across brand activations, integrated 360 campaigns, game design, art initiatives, and UI/UX solutions.

United States

Linara Bozieva

Founder & CEO, Ravenopus

Linara Bozieva is an AI-native business executive who pairs more than fifteen years of international leadership with hands-on fluency in analytics and applied AI. She is the founder and CEO of Ravenopus, an AI-native growth agency that runs the full marketing and go-to-market cycle, from strategy to execution, through a proprietary system of AI agents, and the founder and CEO of Fear-me-not, a children's wellness venture grounded in cognitive behavioral principles.

Earlier in her career, she led analytics and US Exports go-to-market at eBay, building data and growth functions from the ground up, and served as Senior Industry Analyst for Russia and the CIS at Google, where she developed cross-media measurement and brand-lift frameworks. She holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in sociology and applied methods of social analysis from HSE University in Moscow.

In 2026, Linara was honored with a Stevie American Business Award for Marketer of the Year, and Ravenopus was named a Gold Stevie winner for Startup of the Year. Her work and perspective have been featured in Business Insider. Through Built, Not Hired, she teaches founders and operators to build AI-agent-staffed functions rather than scale through headcount, and she writes and speaks on agentic AI systems, analytics-driven growth, and the post-bureaucratic operating model.

Her work is guided by a conviction that technology should serve people: solving real problems, protecting those who are vulnerable, and creating products and collaborations that endure. She brings the same rigor and care to her role as an awards juror, championing work that is both excellent and genuinely useful.

United States

Jayaram Immaneni

Vice President , JP Morgan Chase

Jayaram Immaneni is an accomplished ML Operations Engineer and SRE Lead with extensive experience in designing and implementing large-scale, cloud-native solutions to optimize machine learning workflows and enhance infrastructure performance. Renowned for his expertise in Kubernetes, Jayaram excels in automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications, ensuring high availability, resilience, and efficiency across diverse environments.

Certified in AWS DevOps, Kubernetes (Administrator and Developer), Terraform, and Apache Airflow, Jayaram has a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in developing automated and cost-effective infrastructure solutions. His proficiency in CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD, coupled with creating Helm charts, ensures reproducible and streamlined deployments in containerized ecosystems.

Throughout his career, Jayaram has successfully led data center migrations, including critical transitions to Kubernetes and KVM on vSphere, resulting in significant cost savings through optimized resource allocation and sustainability efforts. In the ML Ops domain, he has driven the full lifecycle of machine learning operations—from data ingestion to deployment—leveraging frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch and employing Apache Airflow to automate ETL workflows for data reliability and real-time insights.

Beyond his technical expertise, Jayaram is deeply committed to mentoring and community engagement, empowering individuals in underserved regions through skill development. His multidisciplinary background, spanning biotech to IT, positions him as a dynamic problem solver, particularly in data and fintech sectors. Dedicated to ethical AI, continuous learning, and delivering sustainable, impactful solutions, Jayaram continues to make meaningful contributions to organizations and communities alike.

United States

Irina Golmgrein

Founder & CEO and Vice President, ExpertizeMe International LLC & IMPACT Capital Global

Irina Golmgrein is the Chief Executive Officer of ExpertizeMe International LLC, and the Vice President to IMPACT Capital Global.

She is a media manager with over 18 years of experience, an expert in vertical video content, and the founder of eight companies. A regular international speaker and author since 2009, she wrote Million Views: How to Increase the Reach of Short Videos, named among the top 50 business books by Book24. Formerly Product Director at 1MI media holding, she specialized in media cybersecurity, digitalization, and analytics, and also initiated a legislative proposal on AI-generated works.

She is also a member of the Presidium of the “Exclusive Closed Business Club” (USA), Co-chair of the AI cluster within the RAEC association, and head of its AI working group. She has also served as an expert at the “Digital Breakthrough” hackathon, a jury member for international awards, and an executive producer of major projects. In 2022, she was named among the Top 30 digital experts.

United States

Vasily Petrenko

CEO & Co-Founder, Another World VR Corporation

Vasily Petrenko is the CEO and co-founder of Another World VR Corp, a global leader in free-roam virtual reality experiences for location-based entertainment centers worldwide.

With a background in Cytology and Genetics from Novosibirsk State University, Vasily transitioned early into tech and entertainment, co-founding ventures that combine science, innovation, and storytelling. His journey began in 2014 with Time Quest Lab, supporting escape rooms, theme parks, and interactive exhibitions. As CFO, he managed forecasting, marketing, and growth, and at Another World, he has led expansion, rebranding, and capital raising while redefining how users engage with technology in physical spaces.

His expertise in strategy, investment, sales, and product–market fit, particularly within emerging tech sectors, gives him a sharp perspective for evaluating startups shaping the future.

United States

Xiaobi Pan

Lead Designer, Amazon

Xiaobi (Iris) Pan is a Lead Designer at Amazon and a globally recognized pioneer in Emerging Technology Design, known for shaping innovative, user-centered experiences at the forefront of digital innovation.

Currently a Lead Designer at Amazon, she leverages technologies such as Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to reimagine the consumer experience with a focus on both business impact and social good. She is the creator of a sound-interactive installation experienced by over one million participants, an app dedicated to planting 100 million trees by 2025, and a portfolio of industry-leading, next-generation products and immersive experiences.

She is widely regarded as an expert in emerging technology design, bringing a rare blend of strategic vision, technical fluency, and creative leadership to her work. With a strong track record of translating complex innovations into intuitive, human-centered experiences, she continues to influence industry standards and inspire best practices across the global design and technology community.

Bulgaria

Vasil Velchev

Media & Product Life Cycle Manager, Europe, Ideal Standard International NV

Vasil Velchev has amassed over a decade of experience as a graphic designer within global organizations. Initially, his foray into product design was more of a hobby, but as his creations gained international recognition and garnered awards, his confidence in his ideas grew.

Several years ago, He initiated the MAGMA project, a platform aimed at consolidating his diverse creations under one umbrella. The project's name is symbolic, representing the designer's belief that every original idea should remain in a constant "liquid" state, continuously evolving to explore its full potential and staying vibrant until it transforms into a tangible product.

Velchev also serves as a valued member of the Grand Jury for prestigious awards. His remarkable talent has earned him approximately 25 international awards across various categories, with a primary focus on furniture design, recognized by design awards worldwide.

United States

Venkateswarlu Mullangi

Product Development Manager, ViaPlus

Product Engineering & Development Manager: With over 22 years of experience in Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems and transportation technology, I bring deep SME, technical and leadership expertise across project management, system architecture, and team development. My focus areas include microservices architecture, cloud computing, and the integration of AI/ML solutions to modernize and optimize transportation platforms.

At ViaPlus by Vinci Highways, I’ve led mission-critical initiatives for agencies such as SRTA, HCTRA, NTTA, CTRMA, SR91 Express Lanes (OCTA and RCTC), MDX, and THEA, managing cross-functional teams of up to 50 members. Key achievements include overseeing large-scale data migrations (e.g., 18 million+ accounts) and developing complex back-office and image processing systems—all while ensuring system integrity, performance, and scalability.

I hold certifications as a Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Project Management Professional (PMP). My contributions to the Victim Notification System earned me the Best Employee Recognition Award from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

As a technical leader, I leverage strong domain expertise and strategic vision to deliver innovative, reliable solutions. My hands-on proficiency in .NET Core, cloud-native microservices, and AI/ML technologies allows me to architect and guide transformative systems that improve efficiency and elevate user experience across the transportation sector.