Trend Report Panel Discussion (21 May): Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Dr. Aawatif Hayar

Strategic Advisor

University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic (Morocco)

Dr. Aawatif Hayar is the Strategic Advisor as the University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco. Previously, Dr. Hayar served as the Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family and was the President of Hassan II University Casablanca 2019-2021. Since 2016, she has served as the Scientific Advisor of Smart City Expo Casablanca and General Co-Chair of IEEE international Smart Cities Conference. In 2011, she served as a professor at the UH2C. She is also a member of the Casablanca “Avant-garde” City think tank. She was also selected by the African Innovation Foundation as one of the top ten innovative African women in 2015.

Pierre-Manuel Patry

Head of Strategic Accounts

Akila

Pierre-Manuel Patry is a global leader in digital twin and AI-powered solutions for build environment. With over 15 years of international experience in sustainability, energy, and digital transformation, he has spearheaded the launch and growth of innovative SaaS platforms across Europe and Asia. Pierre-Manuel focuses on how digitalization and AI can empower cities and industries to achieve operational excellence and net-zero goals.

Pierre-Manuel will be talking about the deployment of an AI-powered digital twin platform at Monaco’s Monte-Carlo station and how the SNCF is using real-time AI and digital twins to reimagine station operations.

Davide Schiavon

EMEA Solutions Partners Lead, Smart Spaces

NVIDIA

As a Solutions Partners Lead at NVIDIA, Davide develops and executes go-to-market strategies for Smart Spaces solution partners, fostering relationships with ISVs, Solution Providers, and SIs. He collaborate with market leaders in Chatbots, Avatars, Digital Twins, and Video Analytics to deliver innovative solutions for smart cities and local authorities.

With over 10 years of experience in business development and sales, Davide has a proven track record of revitalising and expanding partnerships, driving customer service capabilities in AI, and leading the transformation of company challenges into solutions using emerging GENAI technologies like VLMs and LLMs.

Erik Ullstrand

Senior Principle Consultant

Dell Technologies

Erik Ullstrand is Senior Principle Consultant at Dell Technologies. With over seven years at Dell, Erik is a trusted advisor and technical consultant, delivering solution-driven expertise in security and information technology. During his time at Dell, Erik has helped customers across Smart Cities, Law Enforcement, and Defense, deploying advanced technologies to enhance resilience and drive digital transformation in for critical infrastructure and across demanding sectors.

Luke Antoniou
Senior Editor

SmartCitiesWorld

Luke has been reporting on the implementation of smart technologies that benefit citizens and the public sector since 2017.

He has a particularly keen interest in smart and sustainable mobility and its role in influencing the decisions of urban planners, citizens and governments alike.

As rapid urbanisation continues, he keeps his finger on the pulse of the myriad urban challenges facing local and central governments, making new connections in the public and private sectors and finding new angles from which to cover the latest smart city developments around the world.