I N T R O D U C I N G
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Iran Davar Ardalan | Founder and Chief Storytelling Officer Davar is the founder and chief storytelling officer at IVOW – intelligent voices of wisdom. Realizing that there is a gaping hole in AI algorithms that will define our future stories, Davar created IVOW, to champion culturally conscious data strategies across multiple industries from academia to development and enterprise. Ardalan, who is also an Executive Producer at National Geographic, served as co-chair of the Cultural Heritage and AI track at ITU’s AI For Good in 2020. Prior to this, she was Deputy Director of the White House Presidential Innovation Fellowship Program in Washington D.C. and before that a long-time journalist at NPR News, where she was Senior Producer of the Identity and Culture Unit. Ardalan, who has also served as Managing Editor at Hanson Robotics, has been recognized with a NASA Team Leadership award for Space Apps, a Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television and a shout-out in the comic strip Zippy. In May 2014, she was the recipient of a United States Ellis Island Medal of Honor, for individual achievement and for promoting cultural unity. |
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Juanisa 'Nisa' McCoy | Head of Product
Nisa is a co-founder of IVOW and Head of Product. With over ten years of design in consumer and enterprise experiences, her expertise is user experience, interaction design, product development, branding, and immersive content. Her experience involves organizations like NASA, Oracle, ViaSat, and Cox Communications where she has had the opportunity to build end-to-end rewarding interactions that people use every day. Nisa believes that design can bridge the gap between cultures. She brings this passion to immersive experiences, connected cities and communities, diverse input methods, machine learning and AI for better humanistic engagement. She is currently on various tech committees to help drive the best experiences and practices. |
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Nikki McLay | Director of AI Partnership
Nikki is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her background of design communications, digital development, copywriting and fine art has led her to IVOW where she is drawn to the possibilities that come from weaving traditions and heritage into future AI systems, for social good. |
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Karim Ardalan | CTO
Karim specializes in Information Technology, IT strategy, infrastructure, web services, and project management. Karim is working with the IVOW team to oversee product development and strategy. Karim founded his web design company MIS, Inc. in 1995 when he saw the potential of the World Wide Web. With experience in both design and development, Karim can bridge the gap between the creative and the technical. He has worked with hundreds of clients all over the world, helping them improve their websites and e-commerce strategy. |
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Kee Malesky | Head of Consumer Insights
Kee Malesky directs research at IVOW. Her 30-year career as a news librarian for National Public Radio prepared her for quick research and fact-checking on deadline, which she continues to find fascinating and fulfilling work. Kee’s copy-editing abilities come from her experience as the author of two books (All Facts Considered and Learn Something New Every Day), as well as from working on book projects with former NPR colleagues Scott Simon, Davar Ardalan, Jacki Lyden, and others. Before her retirement in 2013, Kee was the recipient of several awards from international library organizations. |
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Robert Malesky | Head of Content Design
Robert Malesky leads content creation at IVOW. Robert is a 30-year veteran at National Public Radio as Senior Producer of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday. Over the course of his career, he worked in both arts and news coverage, winning a number of broadcasting awards. Since leaving NPR he has published a photographic history of the Catholic University of America, his alma mater, and writes a well-received blog on local history called Bygone Brookland. |
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Gunjan Dutta | Software Engineer & Database Developer
Gunjan is a seasoned and creative Software Engineer having expertise in graph technology and data science projects. After graduating with Bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering, she has been expanding what is possible with code to make life more efficient. She has been in the software engineering business for over nine years delivering new innovative solutions and is experienced in the complete life cycle of software development, including analyzing requirements, design, code, documentation, testing, and implementation. |
Technology Partner
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Over the last decade, Our Technology Partners, KiwiTech have led innovation across multiple verticals scaling businesses in the tech space. KiwiTech intimately understands the challenges faced by new founders, aspiring unicorns and established leaders and works closely with them to realize their passion and purpose. With breadth and depth of experience in established as well as emerging technologies such as AI, ML and Big Data, KiwiTech is passionate about building leading-edge solutions, supporting entrepreneurship, and helping companies realize their maximum potential.
Communications Partner
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Hello SciCom is dedicated to furthering scientific literacy by making science and technology fun, engaging, and accessible. We help science and tech entrepreneurs get their message across though science communication, entertainment, and comedy.