Technical Committee

QA&TEST is assessed by a Technical Committee with a large experience in Quality Assurance and Testing, whose mission is to evaluate all the received papers and to select the more appropriate to elaborate a high quality programme with the more relevant trends.
Anders Hessel

Anders Hessel

Xware (Sweden)

Anders Hessel works as Head of R&D, Process Automation at Xware AB. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Uppsala University (2007). The subject of his research was model-based testing for real-time systems. Anders is the author of an extension of the UPPAAL model checker called UPPAAL CoVer that generates test cases (with timing) automatically from a coverage specification. Anders has been a guest researcher at Mälardalen University in cooperation with ENEA (first) and then with Xware (second).

Anders has also been a Post-Doc researcher one year at CRIM (Computer Research Institute of Montreal) in model-based testing cooperating with GM and Siemens. Anders’ employment history (starting 1994) also include ISD Datasystem (Technical Project Manager), Ericsson (Consultant), Filoprocess (Solution Architect), and ENEA (Software Engineer (Tools)/Process Developer). Anders now leads the work of process automation tools (monitoring/workflow) for his company’s integration platform xTrade.

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Andrés Silva

Andrés Silva

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain)

Dr. Andrés Silva is Associate Professor at the Facultad de Informática (Computer Science School) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). He has two-years of industrial experience in Software Engineering, and did a pre-doctoral stay at the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety, ascribed to the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2001 on the topic of Requirements Management. His research career has been centered around Requirements Engineering and Software Safety. Dr. Silva served as member of the Program Committee of several conferences, edited a book on Requirements Engineering for Sociotechnical Systems and co-edited a special issue of IET Software devoted to Software Architecture.

He is author of several research papers published at major conferences (ICSE) and relevant journals (IEEE Software, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Safety Science, etc.). He currently plays the role of Requirements Engineer advisor and evangelist at the Biomedical Informatics Research Group of the UPM. In the last months he has been involved in the topic of resilience modelling and analysis for Critical Infrastructures such as the Smart Grid, in collaboration with the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (JRC of the European Commission).

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Angélica de Antonio

Angélica de Antonio

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain)

Degree in Computer Science, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 1990

Master in Knowledge Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 1992

PhD in Computer Science, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 1994

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Ariel Cymberknoh

Ariel Cymberknoh

Intel Corporation (Israel)

Ariel Cymberknoh is a Firmware and Software validation manager at Intel. A 14 years veteran, Ariel started his career at Intel Israel as a software validation engineer, taking managerial responsibilities 11 years ago.

Ariel leads a team of more than 100 test engineers in charge of validating Firmware and Software based solutions for products concerning security, remote manageability and sensors. Ariel also leads the test automation team that provides solutions for the validation of these activities.

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Begoña Laibarra

Begoña Laibarra

SQS, S.A. (Spain)

Begoña Laibarra graduated in Computer Sciene and obtained a master´s degree in Robotics and Automation. Since 1991 she works for CARSA. She has been responsible for R&D projects coordination of Manufacturing and Information Technologies. Since 1998 works as General Manager of SQS S.A.

She has been responsible of systems V&V definition and implementation for a wide range of embedded systems including safety critical systems. She has also been responsible of the design and implementation software quality process improvement actions.

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Bryan Bakker

Bryan Bakker

Sioux Embedded Systems B.V. (The Netherlands)

After his masters degree in computer science in 1998 Bryan Bakker has worked as software engineer on different technical systems. Since 2002 Bryan has specialized in testing of embedded software in multi-disciplinary environments; in these environments the software interfaces with other disciplines like mechanics, electronics and optics. He has worked on e.g. medical products, professional security systems, semi-industry products, and electron microscopy systems.

The last years Bryan focuses as a test architect on test automation, integration testing, reliability testing and design for testability. Bryan is also a tutor of several different test related courses and presents regularly at international testing conferences.

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Chris C. Schotanus

Chris C. Schotanus

CGI (The Netherlands)

Chris C. Schotanus is Principal IT Consultant at CGI in the Netherlands. Having IT experience since 1975, since 1993 the focus of his activities is on all aspects of testing, from test policy definition to automated test execution. Chris advises organisations regarding testing and acts as trainer and coaches of (test) teams both in agile and non-agile development environments.

Chris is co-author of the book ‘TestGrip: Gaining Control of IT Quality and Processes through Test Policy and Test Organisation’. He is one of the founders of TestFrame, CGI’s approach to structured testing, and author of the book ‘TestFrame, An Approach to Structured Testing’ and several other publications on testing.

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Derk-Jan de Grood

Derk-Jan de Grood

Squerist (The Netherlands)

Derk-Jan de Grood works for Squerist as a senior test consultant. He specializes in getting more out of testing by focusing on the value chain, business-it alignment and the team’s visibility.

Known as a passionate speaker, he is at home at major testing conferences, where he likes to inspire people and help to improve the test profession. He regularly publishes articles and columns for leading test magazines and provides training and lectures.

Derk-Jan is the author of several successful books on software testing including TestGoal, Grip on IT and the Dutch Testers association’s jubilee book on future trends in testing. He is ranking the top 25 of most visible testers in the Netherlands. More info can be found on http://djdegrood.wordpress.com/

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Jan van Moll

Jan van Moll

Philips Healthcare (The Netherlands)

Jan van Moll studied Technical Physics and started his career as a research assistant in Philips Electronics. He holds a PhD in Technical Sciences from the Eindhoven University of Technology. The subject of his research was an industry-based study (2002-2007) on the adverse effects of distributed (global) development on the quality of the developed product. Jan has a twenty year background in software engineering, verification & validation and has wide experience in test engineering, test architecture and test project management in various product domains. He was responsible for the design and improvement of the verification & validation process in internationally distributed development projects for consumer electronics, medical systems and industrial equipment. Jan is a lead assessor in test process maturity assessments according to various maturity models like TMM and TPI. He also worked on the establishment and management of quality management systems in various regulated industries.

Jan is a frequent speaker at international seminars and conferences on Product Quality, Quality Management and Verification & Validation. Currently, Jan is Advanced Development Director for Quality & Regulatory Affairs at Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherlands), a leading company specialized in the development of medical imaging systems. Next to this, he is an independent software forensic expert on request by special boards, investigating major (software-induced) system failures that have impact on security, welfare, social or general national interest.

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Jan Tobias Mühlberg

Jan Tobias Mühlberg

imec-DistriNet (Belgium)

Jan Tobias Mühlberg works as a research manager for embedded software security at imec-DistriNet, KU Leuven (BE). He is active in the fields of software security, and formal verification and validation of software systems, specifically for embedded systems and low-level operating system components.

Tobias is particularly interested in security architectures for safety-critical embedded systems and for the Internet of Things. Before joining KU Leuven, Tobias worked as a researcher at the University of Bamberg (DE), obtained a Ph.D. from the University of York (UK) and worked as a researcher at the University of Applied Sciences in Brandenburg (DE), where he also acquired his Masters degree.

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Jesús Mª de la Maza

Jesús Mª de la Maza

Innovalia (Spain)

Industrial Engineer for the High Technical School of Bilbao – Universidad del País Vasco and Project Management Graduated at IMPI. General Manager of CARSA.

Founder of Innovalia and of Innovalia Metrology.

Has many years of experience as an assesor, consultant and technical assesor of many R&D national and international proposals of projects.

Homologated by the European Comission as a PTA (Project Technical Assistant) for the Growth and IST programmes 2002 – 2007, V and VI Framework Programmes.

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Juan Carlos Sánchez Mirabal

Juan Carlos Sánchez Mirabal

Director de Software en Systelab Technologies, S.A. (Spain)

High experience working and leading large software development teams. Able to work with contractors and geographically distributed teams. High sense of responsibility and ownership and able to track people, activities and goals towards a company goal.

I am trained in CMMi and Spice for Software development. I participated in software improvement programs under regulated enviroments (FDA and CE Mark). I am also expert in agile and scrum management models. I led transitions from classic models following Unified Process to Scrum oriented management and agile practices.

I have +15 years’ experience working for Software for medical devices in compliance FDA 830.20 requirements, following ISO 14485 compliant quality systems, ISO 62304 and AAMI TIR 45 for agile development.

I adapt to the needs while keeping a practical approach.

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Michael Stahl

Michael Stahl

Intel (Israel)

Michael Stahl is a SW Validation Architect at Intel. A 21 years veteran, Michael is a SW Validation Architect in a team that validates software for Intel’s Streaming Media platform. In this role, he defines testing strategies and work methodologies of the test team, and sometimes even get to test something himself (which he enjoys most). Before starting his career in SW testing (in 2000), Michael worked at Intel’s manufacturing facility in Jerusalem, Israel, as a chip-level test engineer. Michael is an Executive Board member of the Israeli Test Certification Board (ITCB), holds a full Advanced ISTQB Certification, and chairs ITCB’s Advisory board. He presented papers in SIGiST Israel, and in international conferences, and is teaching a course on SW Testing in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

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Santiago García

Santiago García

Confirma Sistemas (Spain)

Expert in Security principles in development processes, currently works as responsible for system integration at Confirma Sistemas, defining software solutions for the financial sector, with high performance and high availability requirements, and managing the software providers in charge of their development and maintenance. 

His specialty and passion is the design of systems and services to solve complex problems based on the following pillars: strategy, technology, quality, safety and continuous improvement.

This has always been the driven force of his career based on his inquiring nature, exploring and experimenting with new ways and options that enrich his vision, and learn new tools to incorporate as part of his toolkit.

Thanks to these values ​​and concerns, He has gained extensive experience in complex web environments and JEE with high availability and performance requirements, and implemented best practices in software development life cycles for quality and security assurance, through process automation, continuous delivery and devops.

He is convinced of the need to put people at the center of processes and organizations, to set a purpose that aligns teams, and work in network to achieve better results and to encourage key factors such as commitment motivation, collaboration and talent.

SAFETY AND CYBERSECURITY

Juan de Dios Sanz

Juan de Dios Sanz

UPM (Spain)

Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering – Technical University of Madrid (UPM) since 2006. He is a member of the Spanish Railway Technology Platform, PTFE, as member of its Executive Committee, as well as a participant in ERRAC, the European railway technology platform, in the Permanent Advisory Academic Group. Since April 2014 he has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the Shift2Rail initiative within the H2020 program of the European Union.

He develops his research activity in railway technologies in the Research Group of Modeling and Mechanical Simulation, as well as in the Research Group in Educational Innovation of the UPM. He participates in the G + I_PAI collaboration initiative of the UPM, focused on cultural heritage in the field of technical heritage and industry. In 2018 he joins as an expert in the Spanish delegation to the UNECE-United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

SAFETY AND CYBERSECURITY

Ron Werner

Ron Werner

Joyn GmbH (Germany)

After intense experiences with the C64 and Amiga 500 in his youth, it was crystal clear to Ron that he would start his professional career in IT. Ron chimed into the early days of Internet got into programming websites in early 2000. Having received a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Bath University, he served in various technical IT roles – which even brought him to Japan – and finally, he found his passion for Software Testing.

A QA professional for more than a dozen of years, Ron is specialising in mobile and web testing. Engaged as Test Lead for a large international software provider for the construction industry, he successfully established and led agile testing teams in Germany and the UK, created E2E web and app automation frameworks and excelled as a group-wide internal test consultant. In 2016 he joined QualityMinds, an international IT Quality Consultancy in Munich. There he built up a Mobile Testing Team and later became Team Lead of the Agile & Mobile Testing Teams. As consultant, he got a broad view of different industries, projects and customer problems and helped in automation, BDD and giving workshops promoting a quality culture. After a successful 3.5 years in consulting, Ron joined the video streaming startup Joyn as Lead Automation Engineer, shaping the way iOS, Android and Smart TV test automation is done.

Assets Ron cultivated over time are vast experience in mobile, web and API testing, delivering automation projects, performing quality assessments and running workshops. He’s a keynote speaker and has contributed talks on Software Testing topics at international testing conferences and meetups, and has written articles. His latest interests are IoT and Machine Learning/AI in Testing. Luckily life’s not all about work – Ron loves mountain biking, climbing and skiing, as well as spending quality time (thoroughly offline) with his wife and three sons.

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Ali Khalid

Ali Khalid

Emirates (UAE)

Ali started off his career working in the safety critical industry for SIL to SIL 3 products and has worked with TUV NORD and SIRA accessors to certify a few. Over the years has worked with 30+ products related to large-scale ERPs, SaaS, web applications and embedded devices across many organizations. For past 8 years he has been heavily involved with developing test architecture roles and test automation practices driving teams towards continuous testing.

In recent years most of his work has been around IT transformation projects, guiding teams and large-scale enterprises in developing a framework of strategic vision for quality, quality process benchmarks, test architecture roles within scaled agile framework and continuous testing enablers to develop Agile / DevOps culture & improve product quality along with time to market.

He founded Quality Spectrum with the vision of Redefining Software Quality through Technological excellence, Testing acumen and Business value. He advocates these skills across conferences, podcasts, trainings and articles and trains / consults teams to achieve them.

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Alvin Sumter

Alvin Sumter

Cox Enterprises (United States)

Alvin Sumter studied Industrial Engineering and started as a database administrator at IBM Corporation in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Alvin has a background of more than twenty-plus years in software engineering. He has broad experience in quality and test engineering, test architecture, and test governance across various industry verticals. He has been responsible for designing, implementing, and improving quality and testing programs internationally.

Alvin heads the Quality Engineering Center for Knowledge and Innovation at Cox Enterprises, Inc in Atlanta, Georgia. His focus is to mature quality and test processes using various models like TMMi, TQA, and TPI. Alvin is a frequent speaker at domestic, international seminars and conferences on Test Automations, Test Risks, and Test Metrics and KPIs.

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Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar

WIPRO Digital (Switzerland)

Praveen is a digital enthusiast, strategist & implementer – a true practitioner. As a Europe Geography Head / Principal – Cloud Transformation Practice at WIPRO Digital, Zurich, Switzerland, Praveen helps business realize value embracing Digital. His areas of interest include applied innovation and application of Data Analytics, DevOps, AI in Digital Assurance & Quality Engineering.

He is a technology leader specializing in driving adoption of Continuous Agile Delivery at scale using SAFe, DAD, Scrum@Scale involving emerging technologies like AI, DevSecOps & QE practices.

Praveen is ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level, British Computer Society ( BCS ) ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing, ICAgile Certified Professional – Agile Coach (ICP-ACC), Certified Scrum Master, Certified SAFe® Agilist, Azure Cloud Certified Solution Architect Expert & Azure DevOps Certified Expert.

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Indranil Sinha

Indranil Sinha

Marginalen Bank (Sweden)

Born and brought up in Calcutta, India, Indranil has been living in Stockholm, Sweden since 2004. Before accidentally starting his career in software testing, Indranil had been a trained experimental researcher in cancer biology. After obtaining a PhD degree in Biochemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, Indranil pursued two post-doctoral assignments at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.

In 2011, he got a three-month assignment to work at Marginalen Bank within IT. There he found himself exposed to an interesting field of IT in Banking and slowly started to learn new things. 10 years later, he became the founder of brand-new QA department at the same bank and the head of the department.
Indranil started his public speaking career at software testing conferences in 2021 and he has coined the terms “Test Automanuation” and “Test Autobahn”, two powerful tools in software test automation, innovated under his leadership.

Indranil enjoys helping people, inspiring people to start their career with software testing, giving people an opportunity to become software testers, brainstorming new ideas, spending time with his wife and their three children and travelling in Europe.

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