Having worked in NTT DATA for nearly three decades, Zamma knows the IT industry of Japan inside out, and firmly believes that open innovation will revitalize his company and the industry.

As the head of Open Innovation and Business Incubation, he directs biannual contests and monthly forums to find and introduce promising startups to business units and customers of NTT DATA, and runs programs that put the partner startups on the fast track to proof-of-concept and new business.

Kaz Okada is a Senior Expert in Open Innovation and Business Incubation section of NTT DATA Corporation, which is Japan's largest systems integrator, and he is responsible for globalizing NTT DATA's open innovation program.

His career started as a network engineer serving NASA and the Japanese space agency, but he has also worked as a software engineer at Microsoft in Seattle. He then moved to Washington, DC where he came across countless innovations both as a Manager of Research and Business Development and as a Visiting Fellow of CSIS, which is a top think tank in the United States.
His diverse and international experience makes him an ideal consultant for open innovation, and he is now leading the globalization of NTT DATA’s open innovation program.

Mr. Okada earned his Master of Science from George Washington University School of Business in 2006.

As the Executive Director for ACTION Innovation Network (ACTION), Ms. Popolo is responsible for the growth strategy, general operations, fundraising and building new partner relationships for the organization. Prior to her work with ACTION, Joan held various roles with the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge’s Ignite Clean Energy Competition and Northeast Cleantech Open, accelerator programs and competitions for cleantech startups. Joan brings an understanding of the unique needs of early-stage companies and helps to identify and provide resources to support their growth across the Northeast region. Formerly, Ms. Popolo worked as a Research Scientist with BioTechnica International, an early-stage biotechnology company in Cambridge, MA. Joan also owned and operated J. Popolo Design, a sustainable landscape design and consulting firm. She holds a B.S from Cornell University and a M.S. from Michigan State University, both in the plant sciences.

Kris Fitzgerald is chief technology officer for NTT DATA Services. He leads NTT DATA Services’ client innovation programs, which includes leveraging NTT Group R&D and related investments to enhance service delivery and business outcomes. Kris has about 40 years of progressive experience in the IT sector, spanning various industries.

Sweta Mepani is responsible for driving our top priorities and leading strategic initiatives. She has more than 20 years of diversified entrepreneurial and enterprise experience in IT Services and Consulting. Her global experience spans several industries including Financial Services, Insurance, Public Sector, Manufacturing and Pharmaceuticals.

Amir Durrani is responsible for ensuring that our balanced onshore and India-based offshore delivery models remain competitive differentiators through our expert talent, service delivery innovation and unparalleled quality. Amir has more than 20 years of experience in the IT services industry, including serving as executive vice president of Asia Pacific at Keane, Inc.

Fernando Gonzalez is a Managing Partner for everis USA. He leads FIS Customers in the US Northeast with Sales and Service Delivery responsibilities. Fernando has a long history in everis and has lead multiple positions during the last 16 years around Innovation, Technology, and the Banking Industry in several countries in Europe and the Americas Regions, leading multinational transformation programs in global customers.

Marc Alba is a leading expert in disruption, innovation, entrepreneurship and socioeconomic transformation. He has combined diverse executive positions, which altogether provide him with a unique holistic perspective of the key socio-economic challenges that businesses and societies are facing globally: Researcher, Entrepreneur, Innovation/Disruption/Transformation Officer in Big Corps, Founder of NGOs, Board Member, and Advisor of a large and varied set of both private and public organizations. He is the (co)author of 5 books and more than 100 publications, and defines himself as a "disruptionholic workaholic citizen of the world." Currently, he is the Chief Disruption Officer and Head of NextGen at NTT DATA.

Tanvir Khan is president of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and has spent more than 23 years in IT and outsourcing. He is a hands-on BPO practitioner who drives process transformation combining technology, process optimization, analytics and automation. Tanvir’s approach to BPO is based on a foundation of vertical industry-specific platforms layered with workflow and automation to continuously optimize transaction processing.