SPEAKERS 2026
At VECS we are proud to present a list of highly respected international speakers that are top of mind in the new Ecosystem for Transportation.

Ali Fotouhi
Volvo Cars
Ali Fotouhi is a Technical Expert in Vehicle-Grid Integration at Volvo Cars. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Lisbon, awarded in 2018. Following his doctoral studies, he joined Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, as a researcher, where he specialized in energy management, active distribution grids, and power system analysis. Since March 2022, Ali has been a member of the Energy Department at Volvo Cars, contributing to the development of innovative solutions at the intersection of automotive electrification and grid integration. His work focuses on advancing sustainable energy solutions within the automotive industry, driving the transition toward a more resilient and intelligent energy ecosystem.”

Anna Fedorova
Iveco Group

Anna Larsson
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Director Electromobility at Mobility and Systems, DigitalSystems

Anton Wieselblad
Scania Innovation Centre China
Head of Data streaming and AI within the Section for Autonomous Intelligent Control Platform, Scania former Start-up Ecosystem Manager
Anton Wieselblad is Head of Data streaming and AI within the Section for Autonomous Intelligent Control Platform at Scania since June 2024. With a passion for technology and new business exploration, he have pioneered many successful corporate innovation initiatives globally within the TRATON group. Before his current role, Anton started and ran Scania’s internal entrepreneurship program for several years. Together with Combient Foundry, he has also accelerated Scania’s adoption of start-up collaboration in Sweden before moving to China to work as our “Ecosystem Manager” – essentially working to build up a network with the start-up community in China.

Dr. Annika Larsson
Volvo Group
Strategy and Operational Excellence Manager, Volvo Group
Annika Larsson has 10+ years’ experience with applied technical research, pre-development and early industrialization from working at automotive suppliers in the safety and sensor areas. She has learned to appreciate saying no just as much as saying yes, and is passionate about connecting the gaps between early phase development and industrialization.

Dr. Frank J. Jiang
FleetMQ
CEO & Co-Founder
Frank J. Jiang is CEO and Co-Founder of FleetMQ, a company building resilient data streaming infrastructure for connected and autonomous vehicles. FleetMQ emerged from his PhD work at KTH on real-time control and verification for networked mobility systems. His research and engineering focus is on how software architecture can unlock reliable operations over any wireless network (4G, 5G, WiFi, etc.). Frank’s work has been listed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences’ (IVA) 100 list and has received international awards for his research on the safe deployment of connected vehicles. He now leads FleetMQ’s efforts to bring deployable, cost-efficient connectivity solutions to mobility operators and OEMs.

Dr. Ingo Stürmer
Volvo Autonomous Solutions
CTO & Head of Technology, Volvo Autonomous Solutions
Dr. Ingo Stürmer is CTO & Head of Technology at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, leading the technology strategy for autonomous transport. He brings over two decades of experience in autonomous system development, with previous senior roles at CARIAD (VW Group), Audi, Aptiv, Cruise, and Einride spanning passenger car automation programmes, software-defined vehicle platforms, robotaxi applications, and scalable Tier 1 system offerings. Ingo studied at Bundeswehr University Munich and holds a PhD in software engineering in the area of safety-critical software & system development. He is deeply engaged with the question of how established industries move from autonomous prototypes to industrial-scale production and operations. He is based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Dr. Kirsten Matheus
VDA German Association of the Automotive Industry
Expert Data, Digitalization & Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Torvald Mårtensson
Saab Aeronautics
Technical Fellow within System Integration Testing
Torvald Mårtensson is Technical Fellow within System Integration Testing at Saab Aeronautics. Torvald is also Associate Professor of Software Engineering (Senior Lecturer) at Linköping University, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Systems and Software. He is a full member of The Royal Aeronautical Society in London

Dr.-Ing. Francesco Montanari
Audi Charging Hubs
Dr.-Ing. Francesco Montanari is Project Lead for Software, Data and AI at Audi, shaping the next generation of intelligent energy and charging systems. He drives the data and AI based development of Audi’s charging hubs, stationary battery storage integration, and scalable concepts for coordinated EV charging. Building on his background in autonomous driving, simulation technologies and artificial intelligence — supported by a PhD in Computer Science and a degree in Electrical Engineering — he focuses on creating robust, predictive and intelligent energy ecosystems that support the transformation toward sustainable mobility at global scale.

Ellinor Südow
Halmstad University Solar Team
Ellinor Südow is the Project Manager for Halmstad University Solar Team and also studies Engineering in Sustainable Energy after her already completed BSc in International Business. Her main goals for the project is to create an environment where students thrive and excel through teamwork with a common goal- to build the best solar car in the world.

Emanuella Wallin
Polestar
Emanuella Wallin is a Product Owner in the Charging and Energy team at Polestar. Emanuella leads efforts to develop charging software and solutions that increase convenience and cost-efficiency for Polestar customers, ultimately accelerating the shift towards electric mobility. She is also the project lead for vehicle-to-grid (V2G). V2G enables bi-directional charging and turns the car into a mobile power bank, effectively storing energy to support the owner’s home or energy grid. Emanuella is at the forefront of developing a solution that enables consumers to actively support the energy system while monetizing their car when parked.
Emanuella holds a master’s degree in Software Engineering and Management from Chalmers University of Technology and has experience in both the automotive and software industries, having worked at companies such as Volvo (IT), Seal Software, and DocuSign. Her previous roles include Software Developer, Product Owner Analytics/ML, and Lead Product Manager.

Frank Svenhard
Arval
Director Nordic Consulting
Frank Svenhard is running Consulting arm in the Nordic’s for Arval, the global fleet company operating in 30 countries. He has over 30 years of experience from the Fleet & Mobility sector. Has been part of several country start-ups and holds a university degree in business administration & marketing.

Harald Walter
Thoughtworks
Harald Walter is a Principal Consultant at Thoughtworks since 2025, where he focuses on Continuous Compliance and leveraging Generative AI to automate automotive documentation. With 15 years of experience across Bosch and Vector Informatik, he is an expert in Cockpit and Compute systems, notably pioneering strategic QNX to Embedded Linux migrations to optimize global platform costs. Throughout his career, spanning from initial ideation to mass production, Harald has specialized in bridging the gap between rapid agile cycles and strict industry requirements to significantly enhance the developer experience.

Jan Bosch
Chalmers University of Technology
Jan Bosch is professor at Chalmers University Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden and director of the Software Center (www.software-center.se), a strategic partner-funded collaboration between more than 15 large European companies (including Ericsson, Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Saab Defense, Scania, Siemens and Bosch) and five universities focused on digitalization. Earlier, he worked as Vice President Engineering Process at Intuit Inc where he also led Intuit’s Open Innovation efforts and headed the central mobile technologies team. Before Intuit, he was vice president and head of the Software and Application Technologies Laboratory at Nokia Research Center, Finland. Prior to joining Nokia, he headed the software engineering research group at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. He received a MSc degree from the University of Twente, The Netherlands, and a PhD degree from Lund University, Sweden.
His research activities include digitalisation, evidence-based development, business ecosystems, artificial intelligence and machine/deep learning, software architecture, software product families and software variability management. He is the author of several books including “Design and Use of Software Architectures: Adopting and Evolving a Product Line Approach” published by Pearson Education (Addison-Wesley & ACM Press) and Speed, Data and Ecosystems: Excelling in a Software-Driven World published by Taylor and Francis, editor of several books and volumes and author of hundreds of research articles. He is editor for Journal of Systems and Software as well as Science of Computer Programming, chaired several conferences as general and program chair, served on numerous program committees and organised countless workshops. Jan is a fellow member of the International Software Product Management Association (ISPMA) and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science.
Jan serves on the boards of Burt Intelligence and Shelfplanner. Earlier he served on the boards of IVER, Peltarion and Strawberry Planet and was chairman of the boards of Auqtus, Fidesmo and Remente. In the startup space, Jan is an angel investor in several startup companies. He also runs a boutique consulting firm, Boschonian AB, that offers its clients support around the implications of digitalization including the management of R&D and innovation. For more information see his website: www.janbosch.com.

Julio Leyva
Dassault Systèmes
Julio Leyva is a Senior Manager at Dassault Systèmes, where he leads Industry Solution Experiences for the Transportation & Mobility sector. With a deep focus on the evolution of Software-Defined Vehicles, Julio helps global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers navigate the complexities of modern systems engineering. His expertise lies in integrating Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), digital twin technologies and AI-Driven solutions to accelerate innovation and ensure functional safety in an increasingly connected Industrial automotive landscape.

Lance Brooks
Siemens
Principal Engineer at Siemens Digital Industries Software
Lance Brooks is a senior member of the Siemens team, bringing over three decades of expertise in embedded systems development. As an authority in hardware/software modeling and simulation, his comprehensive experience spans the evolution of embedded systems, from early architectures to today’s sophisticated automotive platforms. Throughout his career, Lance has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions that bridge the gap between hardware design and software implementation, helping automotive manufacturers optimize their development processes and reduce time-to-market.

Magnus Holmén
Halmstad University
Magnus Holmén is a Professor Innovation Sciences at the School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Sweden. He obtained his PhD from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on technological change, industrial transformation as well as innovation ecosystems and business model innovation processes in, for example, healthcare, additive manufacturing, AI. Magnus has co-authored several scientific publications and co-edited several books in these fields.

Maria Kangevall
Coretura
Maria Kangevall is Chief Partnership Officer at Coretura, the software-defined vehicle platform company founded by Volvo Group and Daimler Truck. With 20+ years in strategic procurement spanning Volvo Group and AstraZeneca, she brings deep experience in building partnerships that go beyond traditional supplier relationships. At Coretura, she is shaping how strategic collaboration, startup engagement, and new ways of working drive the development of SDV platforms across the commercial vehicle industry. She is passionate about leadership, team dynamics, and creating the structures that help people do their best work together.

Markus Borg
CodeScene
Principal Researcher at Code Scene and Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Lund University

Mattias Nyberg
TRATON & KTH
Research manager for Systems engineering and SW, TRATON & part-time researcher and supervisor, KTH

Maverson Rosa
Volvo Group Digital Technology & Operations
Enterprise Architecture & Tech – Digital Engineering

Maya Hoveskog
Halmstad University
Maya Hoveskog is Associate Professor in Innovation Management at the School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Sweden. She obtained her PhD from University of Ruse, Bulgaria. Her research focuses on innovation processes with special interest in sustainability-oriented business model innovation and value creation as well as teaching and learning in higher education. She has co-authored a number of scientific publications in these fields.

Michele Del Mondo
PTC
Michele Del Mondo began his career in 1994 at the Steinbeis Transfer Center in Karlsruhe after studying mechanical engineering. While working he added an additional Master of Economic Science to his professional education. In 1997, he joined Webasto SE, a global acting automotive supplier, and led the implementation of a company-wide PLM system. Later, as Director Sales, he took over responsibility for global sales for the Mercedes Car Group. He has been with PTC since 2011 and is now Senior Director – Global Advisor Automotive for the global PTC Automotive business.

Mikael Adenmark
TRATON Group
Mikael Adenmark is driving the TRATON E/E Integration and Test Strategy. He has a long experience from Scania within both system development but mainly in testing and also has experience from railway signalling and fiber optics. The red thread throughout his career has been to understand the bigger picture and finding ways to develop working systems faster and with better quality, in a lean way.

Nathan Bulkley
Coretura
Nathan Bulkley is an AI Capability Lead and SDV Architect at Coretura. He spent nearly a decade at Daimler Truck North America, where he progressed from interaction design to leading software and UX strategy across in-vehicle systems and enterprise platforms. His experience bridges AI, software architecture, and human-centered design – with a practical focus on how these technologies reshape the relationships between OEMs, suppliers, and software companies

Patrick Eisele
P3
Patrick Eisele has been working in the field of autonomous driving since the beginning of his professional career, with a strong focus on strategy, technology, and market dynamics in advanced driver assistance and automated driving. He is currently supporting the establishment of a new Nordic entity within P3 and will be the Managing Director of the newly established entity.
He has led numerous autonomous driving pilot projects, market and technology analyses, and due diligence engagements for OEMs, suppliers, and technology companies. Building on hands on experience across different development approaches and global markets, his work currently focuses on how Europe can sustainably secure and strengthen its technological competitiveness in autonomous driving. Patrick Eisele holds a Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Stuttgart.

Per Olsson
Volvo Group
M.Sc. Senior Expert Vehicle Dynamics Virtual Verification
Per has been working with virtual test and verification of active safety and vehicle dynamics control systems at Volvo Cars and Volvo Group Trucks Technology in various positions since 1997. Today Per is leading the XIL community within the Vehicle Motion and Thermal Management organization at Volvo Group Trucks Technology

Petra Sundström
TRATON Charging Solutions
Managing Director
Dr. Petra Sundström comes from a background of building new digitally enabled business for a manufacturing industry, first in landscaping and in relation to lawn care equipment, next in mining and now in the automation industry setting up TRATON Charging Solutions for TRATON Group. TRATON Charging Solutions being the e-Mobility Service Provider(eMSP) enabling public charging to Scania and MAN customers. Petra has the ability to quickly build a team, set vision and connect technical possibilities and eco system partners to pursue a business opportunity. She has in little time staged TRATON Charging Solutions to be one of the most progressing eMSPs in the commercial vehicles space.

Raman Yazdani Wetterberg
Volvo Group Trucks Technology & Industrial Division
Specialist Feature Architect Energy Management
Raman is steering the helm of Energy Efficiency & Range for Cab Over Trucks regardless of driveline in Volvo Group. He has over 10 years of automotive & racing experience from Polestar Cyan Racing, Volvo Buses, and Volvo Group Trucks Technology with positions ranging from aerodynamicist, lead engineer, group manager, and finally feature architect.

Sofie Weidenlöv
Volvo Penta
Sofie Weidenlöv is Manager for Safety and Cyber Security Risks at Volvo Penta, where she founded the Functional Safety & Cyber Security Development Center—a cross-functional hub that brings experts together to optimize product development in line with the Volvo Group’s goal of 100% safe products.

Stewart Bell
Socionext Europe
Stewart serves as Director for Solution SoC at Socionext Europe, where he champions the power of custom semiconductor innovation to shape the future of networking, industrial, and automotive technologies. His work sits at the intersection of engineering imagination and real world deployment – bringing together Socionext’s deep semiconductor heritage with its flexible Solution SoC business model to help customers create products that truly stand apart. Before stepping into leadership roles, Stewart built his career as a hands on engineer. He spent many years designing advanced electronic systems, semiconductor devices, and embedded software for applications as diverse as marine navigation, industrial automation, digital broadcast systems, and automotive infotainment systems. This technical grounding remains at the heart of his approach: he understands not only how systems are built, but how they are used, stressed, and relied upon in the field.
Across the past 15 years, Stewart has moved through a series of leadership positions spanning engineering management, marketing, and commercial operations within the semiconductor industry. This journey has given him a rare blend of perspectives – part technologist, part strategist, part business leader. He thrives on translating complex silicon capabilities into meaningful customer value, guiding teams to innovate with purpose, and shaping solutions that anticipate where markets are heading rather than where they’ve been.
Today, Stewart is recognised for his ability to bridge the gap between deep technical insight and clear commercial direction. Whether he is speaking with engineers, executives, or end users, he brings an authentic enthusiasm for problem solving and a belief in the transformative potential of well designed silicon. His narrative is one of continuous innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what custom SoC solutions can achieve.

Uwe Brandenburg
DXC Luxoft
Uwe is Vice President Autonomous Driving at DXC Luxoft. In his role he is responsible for developments in the field of autonomous vehicles, AD function development and virtual validation. In his previous role, he was ADAS Chief Technology Officer and Engineering Head and was also responsible for the product and technology roadmaps and projects in the field for autonomous driving and ADAS sensor development for all global customers. This included the development of radar, cameras (mono, stereo and night vision) sensors and domain controllers as well as complete ADAS systems.

Vivek Poovalingam
Thoughtworks
Vivek Poovalingam is a Solution Architect at Thoughtworks, where he focuses on reimagining complex engineering through AI-first, agentic software development. With deep expertise in the automotive sector, he has delivered solutions ranging from embedded ECUs to the first high-performance computers (HPC) for engine control. Vivek currently partners with clients across Europe to modernize their SDLCs, bridging the gap between modern software practices and the rigorous safety requirements of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) ecosystem. Throughout his career, he has specialized in translating ambitious concepts like continuous compliance and AI-led modernization into practical, executable roadmaps that drive measurable impact.

















































































