About the speakers

MarleenStikker

Founder of 'De Digitale Stad'

Marleen Stikker (1962) is founder of De Digitale Stad (The Digital City) in 1993, the first virtual community introducing free public access to the Internet. Presently, she leads Waag, a social enterprise that consists of a research institute for creative technologies and social innovation and Waag Products, that launched companies like Fairphone, the first fair smartphone in the world. She is also member of the European H2020 Commission High-level Expert Group for SRIA on innovating Cities / DGResearch and the Dutch AcTI academy technology & innovation.

HansBossenbroek

Co-founder & CEO of Luminis

Hans Bossenbroek is one of the founders and Chief Executive of Luminis. After a long career working for consultancy organisations and doing freelance jobs, Hans concluded that the potential of IT, the inherent complexity of software engineering and the power of innovation can only be unlocked by harnessing the power of the collective. It may seem strange, but this coincides with his love for jazz music, diving and mountaineering. They all build upon the aptitude, discipline and persistence of the individual in a team.

This complex reality is aptly described by Neil Young: “It’s better to burn out than to fade away”.