Meet our Speakers

Blending technological knowledge with a firm commitment to sustainable development, Mr. Martinez Navarrete is an Information Technology Officer at the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) in New York, USA.

His work at the Innovation Unit revolves around harnessing the power of information technology to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, as well as applying digital technologies, including artificial intelligence for business transformation.

He is responsible for the Unite Ideas platform – an open innovation platform for individuals, teams, and organizations developing & applying technology for social impact - and for the TechNovation Talks series at the United Nations.

With over 15 years of experience in the field, he has established a strong record in designing and implementing information systems and leading innovation and data science teams in both the public and private sectors. In the private realm, he has contributed to e-business and e-commerce at the automobile company Peugeot-Citroën in Paris, France, and the online food retailer Freshdirect.com in New York, USA. Additionally, his entrepreneurial personality led him to found or work for three internet startups.

In the public sector, he led the Data Analytics unit at OICT and contributed significantly to the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York, USA. He also worked in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, overseeing the operation of information systems for more than 18,000 UN personnel. Further, he has offered his expertise at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Amman, Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon.

Mr. Martinez Navarrete holds a Master’s degree in Production Administration, Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration, and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional. His career is driven by a passion for leveraging technology for sustainable development.

Maria DaSilva is the Innovation Project Coordinator at Birla Carbon, working with the Innovation Team to drive idea development and conversion of ideas into high-value projects for the business. Maria started her career in Commercial Property Development and enjoyed working in the sector for 18 years, 14 of which were as the Operations and Facilities Manager.  In her current role, Maria practices the skills she developed over her career and translates those into the innovation space.  She empowers employees across the organization to turn their ideas into actionable and impactful solutions for the business and identifies opportunities for cross-geographical and cross-functional collaboration.  Maria’s passion for innovation, sustainability and health & safety gives her a unique perspective and approach to Birla Carbon’s innovation project portfolio and enables her to drive projects to completion.

Colin has worked in corporate and community innovation for over 20 years, initially as an intrepreneur within the technology sector, and for the last 15 years as a consultant to the industry.

A thought leader in collaborative innovation, a social scientist at heart, Colin has been at the forefront on enabling organizations and communities to harness the collective intelligence of large or diverse groups to create real impact. 

Colin has supported over 100 organizations throughout his career including the likes of Harley-Davidson, IBM, Linklaters, NASA, the NBA and Unilever.

Colin has supported teaching programs at the London, Exeter, and Durham Business Schools.