HUMANOID ROBOT FORUM SPEAKERS

ALI AGHA

Founder and CEO
FieldAI
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With nearly two decades of expertise in pioneering AI and autonomy algorithms across diverse robotic platforms, Dr. Ali Agha is leading FieldAI's strategic vision and product development. Prior to FieldAI, during his distinguished 7-year tenure at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Dr. Agha was Principal Investigator for some of the nation's most high-profile and cutting-edge projects in autonomy, including the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, DARPA RACER (Self-driving off-road cars), NASA’s Autonomous Mars Cave Exploration, and Coordinated Autonomy for Prototype Mars Helicopter-Rover. Dr. Agha led the CoSTAR team (JPL-MIT-Caltech-KAIST-LTU), which won the Urban phase of the 2020 DARPA Challenge focused on exploring unknown complex urban environments. Prior to JPL, Dr. Agha was a researcher at MIT and Qualcomm.

Session(s):

From Factory Floors to the Field: How Risk-Aware AI Enables Autonomy Anywhere | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 1:35 PM (CDT)

AADEEL AKHTAR

CEO
PSYONIC
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Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, CEO of PSYONIC, founded the company to create advanced, accessible bionic limbs after meeting a young girl missing a limb in Pakistan. PSYONIC's bionic Ability Hand is the fastest on the market, impact-resistant, and the first to provide a sense of touch. It is also covered by Medicare and is being used by humans and robotics companies globally, including NASA, Meta, Mercedes, and Google. Dr. Akhtar earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and an M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois, along with a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Computer Science from Loyola University Chicago. He’s been recognized by MIT Technology Review and Newsweek and secured a 3-shark deal on Shark Tank.

Session(s):

PANEL: Hands, Manipulation, and the State of Physical AI | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 4:00 PM (CDT)

JON BATTLES

VP, Technology Strategy
Cobot
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A distinguished industry expert in autonomous supply chain and robotics, Jon has designed over 150 greenfield facilities, overseen multibillion-dollar capital improvement investments, contributed to over 80 robotics-related patents, and played a critical role in integrating Kiva Robotics Systems into Amazon's operation. Jon brings 40+ years of experience in enterprise systems, robotics and automation, including 17 years at Amazon and 25 years at Hallmark Cards. Jon has served on multiple Boards including Secretary RIA Robotics Industry Association, University of Washington ME Board and currently A3 Artificial Intelligence Industry Board. At Cobot, Jon leads technology strategy, applying decades of robotics and automation expertise to shape the next generation of collaborative, AI-powered systems for the physical world.

Session(s):

The Hardest Part Isn't the Robot | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 2:30 PM (CDT)

JEFF CARDENAS

Co-Founder, CEO
Apptronik
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Jeff is co-founder and CEO of Apptronik. He is a serial entrepreneur on a mission to bring the groundbreaking advancements in humanoid robotics into the real world.

He specializes in technology commercialization and new product development. He previously worked at the Global Commercialization Group at the IC2 Institute at UT Austin, working with innovators from around the globe to transform their ideas and inventions from the research lab into the market. Prior to that he worked in the technology practice at Deloitte Consulting. After starting several startups and a non-profit, Jeff co-founded Apptronik in 2016 alongside Dr. Nick Paine and Dr. Luis Sentis.

Under Jeff’s leadership, Apptronik has built some of the most advanced robots in the world, spanning from exoskeletons to humanoid torsos, biped mobility platforms, and unique robotic arms that lift more than they weigh. The experience and learning from all this work led to the development of Apollo, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot. He believes that it is not man vs. machine, but man AND machine that will take humanity into the next stage of evolution.

A native of Texas, Jeff holds a BS in Business and a MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jeff has spoken at numerous robotics and humanoid conferences worldwide and continues to be a dynamic advocate for the rapidly advancing technology realm of AI and humanoid robotics.

Session(s):

Embodied AI: Building Intelligence for the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 12:35 PM (CDT)

ZHAOPENG CHEN

Founder, CEO & Executive Director
Agile Robots

Zhaopeng Chen is the Founder and CEO of Agile Robots. Under his leadership, Agile Robots has experienced rapid global growth by combining artificial intelligence and robotics to advance Physical AI for smart manufacturing. Headquartered in Munich, Agile Robots employs more than 2,500 people from 60 countries and has installed over 20,000 robotic solutions worldwide. Chen studied engineering in China and earned his PhD at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Session(s):

KEYNOTE PANEL: The Next Frontier of Physical AI: Humanoid Robots at Scale | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 12:45 PM (CDT)

AYA DURBIN

Director of Product
Boston Dynamics
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Aya Durbin is a product leader recognized for transforming complex robotic technologies into intuitive, high-impact products that solve real-world problems. With a career spanning the evolution of automation and humanoid systems, she has built a reputation for bridging the gap between cutting-edge engineering and customer value. At 6 River Systems, Aya led the product vision for warehouse automation solutions that redefined efficiency in the logistics industry. Following the company’s acquisition by Shopify, she designed and deliver scalable fulfillment products supporting over 100 warehouses across North America and Europe. Now at Boston Dynamics, Aya leads the Atlas application strategy, shaping how humanoid robots can seamlessly integrate into human environments and bring meaningful value to people’s everyday work.

Session(s):

Why Humanoids Are the Future of Manufacturing: The Unbound Factory | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 1:30 PM (CDT)

CAROLE FRANKLIN

Director of Standards Development, Robotics
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Carole Franklin is the Director of Standards Development, Robotics, for the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). She leads A3’s standards development activities in developing the ANSI and ISO Robot Safety Standards. Before joining RIA, Carole spent over four years with management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, where she led projects on business process improvement, internal communications, and executive communications. Prior to Booz Allen, Carole worked for Ford Motor Company for ten years in the market research department, where she led consumer research projects and tracking studies. Carole holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Michigan.

Session(s):

PANEL: Developing Safety Standards for Humanoid Robots | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 2:00 PM (CDT)

AMIT GOEL

Director Product Management, Autonomous Machines
NVIDIA
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Amit Goel is Director of Product Management for Autonomous Machines at NVIDIA, where he leads the product development of NVIDIA Jetson, the most advanced platform for AI computing at the edge, and developer relations for the NVIDIA Isaac robotics platform.

Amit has more than 15 years of experience in the technology industry, working in both software and hardware design roles. Prior to joining NVIDIA in 2011, he worked as a senior software engineer at Synopsys, where he developed algorithms for statistical performance modeling of digital designs.

Amit holds a Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and communication from Delhi College of Engineering, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE PANEL: The Next Frontier of Physical AI: Humanoid Robots at Scale | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 12:45 PM (CDT)

BRIAN HEATER

Managing Editor
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Brian Heater is A3’s Managing Editor. During his 20+ year career in technology journalism, he has worked as Hardware Editor at TechCrunch, Managing Editor at Tech Times, and Director of Media at Engadget. He is the host of the RiYL podcast and lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his two rabbits, June and Flash. 

Session(s):

PANEL: Developing Safety Standards for Humanoid Robots | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 2:00 PM (CDT)
PANEL: Hands, Manipulation, and the State of Physical AI | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 4:00 PM (CDT)
FIRESIDE CHAT: The Commercial Viability of Humanoids — Why the Home Is Last, Not First | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 1:05 PM (CDT)
PANEL: Scaling, Delivering, and Deploying: Humanoids in the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)

ANI KELKAR

Partner and Global Leader, Robotics & Automation
McKinsey & Company
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Ani Kelkar, PhD, is a Partner at McKinsey & Company and the Global Leader of McKinsey’s Robotics & Automation practice. He advances Physical AI globally by shaping the firm’s research agenda and client service strategy and connecting stakeholders across the ecosystem.

Ani is a leading voice in the physical AI space, with publications in Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, and multiple McKinsey platforms, and he frequently speaks at conferences such as CES, Humanoids Summit, and Ride AI. His recent contributions include “Transforming Industries with Physical AI” (CES, January 2026), “How to Successfully Automate in Manufacturing” (Harvard Business Review, September 2025), and “When Humanoid Robots Come to a Small-Town Factory” (Wall Street Journal, March 2026).

As a Partner at McKinsey & Company, he advises incumbents, investors, and disruptors across the robotics and automation landscape. His recent client work includes supporting a leading robotics disruptor on product strategy, business planning, and go-to-market execution, culminating in a multi-billion-dollar fundraising round and commitments for more than 10,000 units. He has also advised the Board of Directors of a major automotive technology company on the impact of humanoid robots on operations, contributing to the establishment of a “factory of the future.”

An engineer by training, Ani earned his PhD from Purdue University and his bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Chemical Technology in India.

Session(s):

PANEL: Scaling, Delivering, and Deploying: Humanoids in the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)

ERIN MCCOLL

Director, Robotics Technology Adoption
Toyota Research Institute
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Erin McColl leads Robotics Technology Adoption at Toyota Research Institute (TRI), where she advances robotics and AI technologies toward real-world deployment and commercialization. She works across product, strategy, partnerships, and engineering to translate technical advances into viable products and business opportunities. Her background spans industrial and field robotics, manufacturing automation, and autonomous diving - leading complex cross-functional technology programs.

Session(s):

PANEL: Scaling, Delivering, and Deploying: Humanoids in the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)

DEEPAK PATHAK

CEO & Co-Founder
Skild AI

Deepak Pathak is CEO & Co-Founder of Skild AI and Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He is known for pioneering contributions to AI including self-supervised learning, artificial curiosity and adaptive robot learning. At Skild AI, he is focused on developing an AI foundation model for robotics. Deepak has received several prestigious honors including MIT TR 35under35, Okawa, IIT Kanpur Young Alumnus Award and multiple Best Paper Awards.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE PANEL: The Next Frontier of Physical AI: Humanoid Robots at Scale | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 12:45 PM (CDT)

BREN PIERCE

CEO
KINISI
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Brennand Pierce is the founder and CEO of Kinisi Robotics, where he is leading the development of intelligent humanoid systems designed for real-world warehouse automation at scale.

He studied humanoid robotics at the Technical University of Munich, where his research focused on bipedal locomotion and machine learning. Prior to Kinisi, he co-founded Bear Robotics and helped scale its flagship product through multiple funding rounds. He also founded Robotise, an autonomous delivery robotics company based in Germany.

Bren’s technical range spans the entire robotics stack, from low-level firmware, PCB design, and embedded systems, through real-time motor control and high-level autonomy, to AI system integration and cloud infrastructure for large-scale deployment. He is recognized as a leading expert in the design of humanoid robots powered by foundation models, combining real-time control with high-level reasoning to bridge classical robotics and modern AI.

At Kinisi, he is building a multidisciplinary team and deploying intelligent robots into high-throughput environments, bringing the next generation of embodied intelligence out of research and into commercial reality.

Session(s):

PANEL: Hands, Manipulation, and the State of Physical AI | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 4:00 PM (CDT)

NICOLAUS RADFORD

Co-Founder & CEO
Persona AI
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Nicolaus Radford is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Persona AI, where he leads the company’s mission to develop and deploy humanoid robots for industrial applications. He brings more than 25 years of experience designing, developing, and commercializing advanced robotics technologies across the space, defense, and industrial sectors. Prior to Persona AI, Mr. Radford founded Nauticus Robotics, a publicly traded maritime robotics company listed on NASDAQ. Under his leadership, the company developed and deployed autonomous underwater vehicles and autonomous surface ships designed to transform offshore operations. He also founded Jacobi Motors, an electric motor company focused on traction motor technologies for high-performance applications. In addition, he is the founder and Managing Partner of Rad Capital Ventures, a hedge fund with a focus on electricity market trading. Earlier in his career, Mr. Radford spent 15 years at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he led several of the agency’s robotics initiatives supporting future spaceflight missions and experiments aboard the International Space Station. His work included leadership roles on the Valkyrie and Robonaut humanoid robotics programs. During his tenure at NASA, Mr. Radford received numerous patents, design honors, and commendations, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, one of the agency’s highest distinctions. In 2023, he was named one of Purdue University’s Outstanding Electrical Engineers, an honor awarded annually to only five alumni. Mr. Radford has authored multiple publications in robotics and contributed to Springer’s Handbook of Humanoid Robotics. He holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Houston.

Session(s):

FIRESIDE CHAT: The Commercial Viability of Humanoids — Why the Home Is Last, Not First | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 1:05 PM (CDT)

KEVIN REESE

Distinguished Robotics Safety Engineer
Agility Robotics
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Kevin Reese is a Distinguished Robotics Safety Engineer at Agility Robotics and the Project Leader for ISO 25785-1 within ISO/TC 299/WG 12, the international working group developing the first safety standard dedicated to dynamically stable industrial mobile robots which includes legged, wheeled balancing, and humanoid systems.

With a background spanning robotics safety strategy, industrial standards development, and real-world deployment, Kevin has been instrumental in shaping the emerging safety landscape for next-generation mobile robots. At Agility Robotics, he leads safety engineering for Digit, a bipedal robot designed for logistics and industrial tasks. His work bridges technical implementation and safety governance, ensuring safe integration of dynamically stable robots into industrial environments.

Kevin is deeply engaged in international standardization. As the Project Leader for ISO 25785-1, he is spearheading a new Type-C standard to address the safety requirements of robots that rely on active control for stability which is an increasingly critical category as legged and humanoid robots rapidly transition from emerging technologies to active roles in warehouses and industrial operations worldwide. The work of ISO 25785-1 under Kevin’s leadership addresses a critical gap left by prior standards like ANSI/RIA R15.08, and is paving the way for broader international consensus around safety requirements for this rapidly advancing field.

Kevin brings a unique systems-level perspective to safety working not only on the robots themselves but also on how they interact with people, infrastructure, and operational processes. He has partnered closely with EHS teams, vendors, and customers to ensure robots like Digit can be safely and effectively deployed in structured industrial spaces.

Session(s):

PANEL: Developing Safety Standards for Humanoid Robots | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 2:00 PM (CDT)

DAVID REGER

Founder and CEO
NEURA Robotics
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David Reger is the founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics, the German company that developed the first series-ready cognitive robot in record time. In recognition of his success as a founder and corporate leader, he was appointed to the German Economic Senate, the Economic Council, and the European Senate for Economy and Technology.

David Reger coined the term “cognitive robotics” and is considered a pioneer in the field. By combining artificial intelligence with groundbreaking sensor and hardware design, he transforms robots into integral parts of modern daily life, addressing urgent societal challenges such as skilled labor shortages.

In 2009, the technical model maker moved to Silicon Valley, where he served the community as a social worker. Returning to Europe in 2013, he built three successful high-tech companies focused on robotics.

Inspired by the conviction that respect for existing technological achievements should never hinder the pursuit of the impossible, he founded NEURA Robotics GmbH in 2019, driven by the idea of creating technologies that serve humanity.

In his role as visionary, technical expert, and responsible entrepreneur, David Reger actively shapes our society’s transformation toward a social robotics economy. He provides political impulses and influences the tech sector as a “down-to-earth doer.”

Session(s):

KEYNOTE PANEL: The Next Frontier of Physical AI: Humanoid Robots at Scale | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 12:45 PM (CDT)
The Impact of Physical AI in Industrial Worlds | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)

ELIZABETH SAMARA RUBIO

Senior Vice President
Noble Machines
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Elizabeth is an entrepreneurial technology executive with proven success of building high-performing global teams, raising the bar on product quality and results, and driving multimillion dollar revenue growth of AI driven physical solutions. She leads from the frontline of AI deployment -- with over 800 physical and AI systems in manufacturing, healthcare, government, and autonomous mobility. She delivers business impact measured in topline growth, improved margin, and differentiation in her 20 years' track record of scaling technology-centric businesses and developing global go-to-market strategies.

Elizabeth is the Senior Vice President at Noble Machines, where she leads the business team and recently led Noble Machines' launch to emerge from stealth. She has held executive leadership roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS, Global Head of AI Managed Services), Accenture, and Cognex. Her experience extends to start-ups in energy (Founder of StorWatts), edge AI (CBO at Sima.ai), natural language processing, cybersecurity, and e-learning.

Session(s):

PANEL: Scaling, Delivering, and Deploying: Humanoids in the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)

PRAS VELAGAPUDI

CTO
Agility
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Pras Velagapudi is Chief Technology Officer at Agility. He brings decades of experience in robotics planning and control, and creating and deploying robots into home, industrial, and outdoor environments. He most recently was a VP of Engineering and Chief Architect of Mobile Robotics at Berkshire Grey, deploying fleets of hundreds of robots to logistics applications. At Agility, Pras is focused on pragmatic product-relevant innovations, driven by the vision and strategy for Agility’s bipedal robot Digit, operationalizing the company’s research and development efforts, and continually exploring what’s new. Pras received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE PANEL: The Next Frontier of Physical AI: Humanoid Robots at Scale | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 12:45 PM (CDT)
Humanoids Are Here — What’s Next? | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:30 PM (CDT)

FEDERICO VICENTINI

Safety Policy Architect
Boston Dynamics

Federico Vicentini is Safety Policy Architect at Boston Dynamics, focusing on safety principles and goals in the world of physical AI. He's been with BD for over 7 years helping foster robot safety technology, risk-based methodologies, and compliance for legged robots, humanoids, and mobile manipulators. After more than a decade of serving as an Expert in national and international safety standardization committees, he's been appointed Convenor of ISO TC 299 WG 12 for Safety of Dynamically Stable industrial mobile robots like humanoids and legged robots. Previously, he was a Researcher at the Italian National Research Council with interests in human-robot collaboration. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and co-authored 60+ scholarly publications and technical reviews.

Session(s):

PANEL: Developing Safety Standards for Humanoid Robots | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 2:00 PM (CDT)

JAMES WELLS

CEO
Sanctuary AI
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James Wells is the CEO of Sanctuary AI, a humanoid robotics company that is ranked third globally by Morgan Stanley for published US patents and introduced tactile robot sensors before Amazon’s Vulcan earlier this year. The Vancouver-based company is behind Phoenix, a humanoid robot that has the most fully-functional hand dexterity on the market. James joined Sanctuary AI in 2019 as VP of Corporate Development and worked his way up to CEO. Prior to Sanctuary, James was VP of Investments at Evok Innovations.

Session(s):

PANEL: Hands, Manipulation, and the State of Physical AI | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 4:00 PM (CDT)

REBECCA YEUNG

Strategic Advisor, Former CVP
Dexterity, FedEx
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Rebecca Yeung operates at the intersection of Physical AI, large-scale operations, and enterprise transformation. Over a 26-year career at FedEx—including a decade leading robotics and automation—she has been at the forefront of translating emerging technologies into real-world operational impact.

Rebecca specializes in bridging the gap between “lab AI” and scalable enterprise value—identifying high-impact use cases, designing for scale from Day One, and integrating robotics, autonomy, and decision science into complex operating environments. She led Physical AI deployment across one of the world’s largest logistics networks, launched FedEx’s Enterprise Robotics Center, and built strategic partnerships to advance automation at scale. In 2024, she was recognized by Reuters Events as one of the Top 20 Trailblazing Women in Enterprise AI.

She currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to Dexterity Inc., a leader in industrial Physical AI, and as an independent board director. Rebecca works with boards and CEOs to navigate Physical AI transformation—aligning strategy, operations, and governance to deliver measurable ROI and future-proof enterprise systems.

Session(s):

PANEL: Scaling, Delivering, and Deploying: Humanoids in the Real World | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM (CDT)