IEEE-International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Systems, and Emerging Technologies (Hybrid) April 21-23, 2026 AlShorouk Academy, EGYPT

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Building Trusted AI-Driven Infrastructure is a panel discussion that explores how organizations can design, validate, and operate digital systems that are secure, reliable, and ready for the era of AI. As AI becomes embedded across networking, cybersecurity, cloud, DevOps, and infrastructure operations, the challenge is no longer just innovation at speed, but building trust at scale. This session brings together leaders with complementary perspectives on networking, security, cloud validation, quality maturity, automation, and systems reliability to discuss what it takes to make AI-driven infrastructure dependable in real-world environments. The panel will examine key topics such as identity, governance, Zero Trust, validation, observability, deployment control, and operational maturity, with a focus on practical lessons and actionable takeaways. The discussion will highlight how trust is earned through thoughtful design, continuous validation, responsible deployment, and cross-functional collaboration across teams. This session is designed for attendees who want to better understand how to build and sustain infrastructure that can support AI confidently and securely in production.

Bios:
Panelist - Yogesh S. Thanvi, Email:  yogeshthanvi@gmail.comYogesh S. Thanvi is a cloud security and DevSecOps specialist at Akamai Technologies, focused on securing large-scale distributed systems and internet-scale platforms. His work spans AI-driven security, CI/CD governance, and cloud-native architectures, where he helps design and implement controls that keep modern infrastructure both agile and resilient. Yogesh has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on cloud security, audit frameworks, and cybersecurity trends, and he is actively involved in the professional community through leadership roles within ISACA. His interests lie at the intersection of automation, assurance, and secure-by-design engineering, with a particular emphasis on making complex security practices practical and measurable for real-world teams.

Panelist - Ankit Parashar, Email  : ankitparashar.ec.2110@gmail.comAnkit Parashar is an Account Executive in Cybersecurity at Cisco, bringing over 15+ years of experience helping global enterprise customers solve complex security and networking challenges. He specializes in Zero Trust, SSE/SASE, segmentation, and AI-driven security, with a strong focus on aligning technology to real business outcomes.
Ankit works closely with Fortune 500 organizations across healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, leading strategic workshops and executive engagements to drive platform consolidation and secure digital transformation. A CCIE Security (#62118), he combines deep technical expertise with a consultative approach to build trusted relationships and deliver measurable impact.
Beyond his professional role, Ankit is an active community leader and speaker, passionate about fostering collaboration, innovation, and the next generation of technology leadership.

Panelist - Nilesh Jaiswal, Email:  nileshsjaiswal27@gmail. com

DevOps Engineer III / Lead | Platform Engineering Leader

I am a DevOps and platform engineering leader with over 25 years of extensive experience building enterprise-grade infrastructure at scale. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Computer Technology from Nagpur University, India, and a Post Graduate Program (PGP) in AI/ML from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, where I completed multiple capstone projects applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to real-world infrastructure and engineering challenges.

I currently serve as a DevOps Engineer III / Lead at Electronic Arts (EA) on the Service Enablement Engineering team, where I specialize in infrastructure modernization, OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) automation, and platform enablement across global datacenters.

My work spans VMware-to-OpenShift migrations, GitOps automation with ArgoCD and Helm, API gateway implementation, and zero-trust security architecture — driving initiatives targeting 85% automation coverage and sub-2-hour cluster deployments. I have deep expertise in Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, GitLab CI/CD, and Python-based infrastructure automation, delivering resilient, scalable solutions across complex multi-datacenter environments.

Beyond container platforms, I have extensive experience automating storage and infrastructure operations — including NetApp Active IQ Unified Manager, DII (Data Infrastructure Insights), and NetApp Keystone — integrating these platforms with custom-built observability dashboards using Prometheus and Grafana. This work has enabled automated alerting, storage chargeback reporting, and real-time visibility into infrastructure health across enterprise environments.

I am passionate about the intersection of AI and infrastructure — exploring how intelligent automation, agentic systems, and trusted DevSecOps practices can transform the way modern platforms are built, secured, and operated.

Panelist - Saurabh Sharma, Email -  saurabh.sharma24@gmail.com

Saurabh Sharma is an enterprise architect, author and technology innovator with over 19 years at Cisco. He holds dual CCIE certifications (#27779) in Service Provider and Data Center, along with certifications in cybersecurity and AI. His work spans Enterprise Campus Architecture, Zero Trust, Post-Quantum Cryptography and AI Defense.

A featured speaker at Cisco Live and Cisco Connect since 2016, Saurabh has a knack for making complex technical topics accessible to real audiences. He has authored defensive publications and holds published patents. As an IEEE Senior Member he stays closely involved in advancing the field. Outside his own work, he invests time in mentoring teams and helping the next generation of engineers find their footing.

Panelist - Karthik Pappu, Email: karthik.pappu@gmail.comKarthik Pappu is a Cloud Security Engineer with strong expertise in cloud security, enterprise storage engineering, PKI systems, and large-scale cost optimization. He has worked extensively on secure, scalable infrastructure in cloud and hybrid environments, with a particular focus on identity, access, and data protection in complex distributed systems. Karthik is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cyber Defense at Dakota State University, where his research focuses on Scientific Machine Learning and its applications to cybersecurity. His work sits at the intersection of security architecture, systems engineering, and applied AI, with an emphasis on building infrastructure that is both resilient and cost-efficient in real-world production settings.

Host - Lakshmi Vidya Peri, Email: lvperi@gmail.comLakshmi Vidya Peri is an engineering and quality leader with over a decade of experience in validation, systems engineering, and test strategy across server and storage platforms. She has led large-scale initiatives in test orchestration, KPI design, and quality maturity, with a strong focus on building repeatable, measurable confidence in complex technology environments. Lakshmi serves on the Board of Directors of TMMi America and is actively involved in advancing test maturity practices and quality frameworks across the industry. As a conference chair and moderator, she is passionate about connecting practitioners, sharing practical lessons from the field, and helping organizations translate robust validation and quality practices into real-world engineering outcomes.

Host - Prof. Salah Aly, Egypt