Banny Banerjee is the Director of ChangeLabs and has worked in the field of Innovation and Design for 30 years. He is well known for his pioneering work in design thinking and more recently his advanced systems based innovation methodology and Systems Leadership models for large-scale transformations in multi-dimensional challenges. The trans-disciplinary nature of his work, which combines design thinking, technology strategy, business innovation, applied social psychology, behavioral economics, diffusion theory, and resilience theory, is pioneering the formation of a new type of innovation: “Systems Innovation”. Banny teaches system transformation, business innovation, design thinking, and leadership at Stanford University. His research initiatives are centered on processes, paradigms, and integrated strategies to address complex challenges such as the future of water, energy, governance systems, and organizational transformations. Banny is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future’s Council on Systems and Platforms and works with industry leaders in fostering cultures of innovation and Systems Leadership.

Annette Zou is a system designer and strategist with a particular interest and expertise in the use of game inspired design techniques to create coherent systems and engaging experiences. She works closely with the ChangeLabs Director to advance Systems Transformation approaches, carry out business development activities, and drive the business strategy and future direction. In addition to managing projects, facilitating workshops, Annette also lectures at the Stanford d.school in systems transformation.

Annette has a background in innovation and human centered design, game design, and cultural studies. She has extensive experience bringing innovation methodologies into the public sector and has designed service delivery improvement strategies for federal government departments in the areas such as healthcare, national security, taxation, transportation, and digital transformation.

Annette’s particular interest in game design led to building gamification and game inspired systems in business contexts. She is working to expand this field of work for broader application in system design.

Adelaide Dawes is the Program Manager at mediaX at Stanford University. Dawes, originally from England, worked there with the Civil Service for 25 years. She came to California in 1999. With 20 years of experience at Stanford University, she supports the many events and needs of mediaX and the H-STAR Institute. She ensures that the work of mediaX programs continues unhindered by administrative trivia, and that our industry members, researchers and faculty have all they need to build their ground-breaking research partnerships.

Elizabeth Wilsey is the Director of Community Relations with mediaX at Stanford University. In this role she supports member management, relationship development, and the internal and external community of mediaX. She specializes in relationship cultivation and logistic coordination, with experience in both academia and theatrical production. Prior to arriving at Stanford, she worked as an Academic Conference planner for faculty across many disciplines at the University of Notre Dame, including sites in London, Rome, Dublin, and Jerusalem. Past productions have won numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, and Tony Award nominations. She holds a BA in American Studies and French Literature from the University of Notre Dame.

Jason Wilmot is Director of Communications and Events for mediaX at Stanford University. In a recent study, “University-Industry Programs as Platforms: A Case Study of (Multi-Disciplinary) Network Development,” presented at the 2018 Hawaii International Systems Sciences Conference, Jason described concepts and tools used to integrate perspectives and help mediaX members apply research insights from a wide variety of Stanford labs, including robotics, human-computer interaction, social and computing sciences, online media content and digital learning environments.

Jason has significant experience in media management – managing and running commercial broadcast stations in the United States, as well as creating and distributing content that gains attention from audiences and communities in the “instant gratification, what have you done for me lately world.” He’s a hands-on creative manager who specializes in building awareness for globally-reaching campaigns and projects using multi-platform distribution.

Martha G. Russell is Executive Director of mediaX at Stanford University and Senior Research Scholar with the Human Sciences Technology Advanced Research Institute at Stanford. Dr. Russell leads business alliances and interdisciplinary research for mediaX at Stanford University. With people and technology as the intersecting vectors. Russell’s background spans a range of business development, innovation and technology-transfer initiatives in information sciences, agriculture, communications, and microelectronics – for businesses, universities and regional development organizations.

Dr. Russell’s research goals build on the successful completion of the 10-year Internet2 research RoadMap for the social sciences’ use of IPv6 protocols, established at the Internet2 Sociotechnical Summit, led by Dr. Russell through the University of Texas at Austin. Her scientific objectives are grounded in her passion for identifying research questions that extend the foundations of knowledge, enable interdisciplinary research teams, and provide insights that help solve societal problems.

Dr. Russell’s multi-stakeholder programs are informed by her background in a relational approach to social psychology, organizational engineering and marketing, as well as her extensive work in technology-based regional development for State, Federal and International organizations. Always eager to stretch the horizons of science and technology, she had established multi-stakeholder initiatives in nutrition, special education, afterschool programs, community building, biotechnology, agriculture, microelectronics, information sciences, manufacturing technologies, and communications.

Dr. Russell has a doctoral degree in Policy Analysis focused on Technology Transfer from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She serves on the advisory boards of the Journal of Technology Forecasting and Social Change and the Journal of Enterprise Transformation; she has founded and now advises several startup companies.

With a focus on the power of shared vision, the Innovation Ecosystems Network, co-founded by Dr. Russell, takes a data-driven approach to visualizing relationships through which interventions for innovation can be effectively evaluated for smart decisions about shared futures.

Helen Roque is a Program Manager for the International Visitors Program for H-STAR Institute. Her expertise is in her in-depth knowledge in visa processing and administration. Helen has learned that the most valuable asset and success in a job is to provide good customer service, communication, team building and respect for all individuals and cultures.

Susie Ng is Financial Management Analyst of H-STAR Institute. Susie is responsible for financial management of H-STAR Institute, including various H-STAR programs: mediaX, ChangeLabs, Behavior Design Lab and Visiting Scholars. She works with Stanford faculty to submit grant proposals and manages all sponsored projects. Susie also prepares forecasts and annual budgets for H-STAR Institute.