Max Schrems is an Austrian lawyer, author, and privacy activist. Notably recognized as the individual who filed a complaint against the European arm of Facebook to prohibit the further transfer of data to the United States, a privilege established via the EU Commission's Safe Harbour Agreement and one he claimed was in direct violation of EU privacy laws. His actions were the ultimate catalyst to the accords dismantling and served as an important voice in the creation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR.) Schrems’ on-going fight to ensure data protection led him to found noyb, “none of your business,” an organization dedicated to closing the gap between privacy laws and the reality of corporate practice.

Edward Snowden has been called "The most wanted man in the world." The U.S. computer professional achieved international fame after disclosing in June 2013 thousands of classified documents that he acquired while working as an NSA contractor. Edward's leaked documents revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many of them run by the NSA and the Five Eyes with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments. A subject of controversy, Snowden has been variously called a hero, a whistleblower, a dissident, a patriot and a traitor. Like never before, his disclosures have fueled debates over mass surveillance, government secrecy, and the balance between national security and information privacy. On June 9, four days after the press first exposed a secret NSA program based on his leaks, Edward Snowden made his identity public. On June 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice charged him with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Edward flew to Moscow, where he remained in the airport transit zone for 39 days, during which time he applied for asylum in 21 countries. On August 1, 2013, Russian authorities granted him asylum. He lives nowadays in an undisclosed location in Russia. (Source: Wikipedia.com) *virtually presenting via video conference

Birgitta Jónsdóttir is a Poetician and a former parliamentarian for the Civic Movement & Pirate Party in the Icelandic Parliament & chairman for IMMI (International Modern Media Institute). Birgitta helped create two political movements since 2009, the Civic Movement and the Pirate Party 2013, both parties were successfully elected to the Icelandic Parliament. She was selected as one of the International Politician of the Year in 2016 by Der Spiegel and shortlisted for the WTN awards in policy in 2014. Birgitta is a longtime activist and was a WikiLeaks volunteer and spokesperson in 2010. She played a crucial role in the WikiLeaks release of The Collateral Murder. Birgitta is a regular contributor to the Guardian and various other publications. She is a pioneer in web development in her own country and has published books her own and by others, both locally and globally. She has appeared in documentaries and features and even in a Hollywood film. Her favorite documentaries she has been part of thus far are WikiRebels, We Steal Secrets and Meeting Snowden. She believes individuals can and should change the world.

 

Alexander Schulz has turned the world of slacklining on its head with his awe-inspiring ability to successfully traverse some of the toughest slacklines ever rigged. We are pleased to welcome Alex to CloudFest 2018, as he shares his exciting journey from amateur slackliner to world champion status-holder

Billy Morrison is the quintessential rock star. Playing lead guitar for Billy Idol since 2010, his CV of musical successes also includes key member status in such bands as Camp Freddy and the Royal Machines. Billy is a prolific writer, recording music with his own bands - Doheny, Stimulator, and Circus Diablo. Expanding his creative horizons beyond music, Billy enjoys acting, having appeared in a number of independent movies, guest starred in the hit show “Californication” and featured in the movie “K-11.” Billy’s passions also lie within the world of art, first as a longtime collector and now as a bonafide artist after picking up the paintbrush and never looking back!  

Three times TEDx Speaker, Author and Technology Futurist, Ian is a leading voice in the technology space. Author of Meaningful Conversations, Cloud Wars, The Internet of Things (IoT) A Concise Introduction, The Internet of Things & the Future of Innovation, Make Me Like You, 21 Steps & Get Ahead, Ian is deeply passionate about helping audiences simplify their understanding of Technology and how to uncover more value. Ian is a frequent contributor to industry publications, including McGraw Hill Education, Huffington Post, & Techvibes and is the host of the Innovation Times Podcast. Passionate about helping newer generations develop key technology understanding, Ian also works with educational institutions & nonprofit organizations. His recent work includes Chang School (Ryerson University), Schulich School of Business (York University) and others. Ian is also a founding member of IOTAC (Internet of Things Association of Canada), Canada’s Only Internet of Things Advocacy group and Nonprofit dedicated at providing a platform & advocacy support for IoT initiatives in Canada. His latest book is “Meaningful Conversations- Value Creation in the Era of Digital Disruption”, targeted at technology industry professionals seeking to create more value from where they are and with what they have. Ian also holds a PMP designation and lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and son. Follow Ian on twitter at @IanKhanlive or visit him at www.IanKhan.com