Yanislav Zagorov is a serial entrepreneur and technical founder specializing in AI-driven innovation. With a background in Computer Engineering and a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from NTNU, he co-founded Arealize, an AI platform that generates adaptive floor plans for commercial real estate. Yanislav’s work emphasizes the responsible and ethical use of AI. His insights contribute to ongoing discussions about how generative AI can be thoughtfully applied to shape the future of design and creativity.
Artist & Founder of Studio Bidi
Embla Berg-Dawson is an artist and entrepreneur who bridges the gap between creativity and strategy. As the founder of Studio Bidi, she supports creatives in building sustainable careers through branding, marketing, and community-focused initiatives.
Embla is passionate about exploring how AI can enhance—not replace—human creativity. Her work centers on using technology as a tool to empower artists and open new pathways for expression and visibility.
Eleanor Flowers is a cabaret artist, poetess, chanteuse, composer and theatrical director. She is the creator and star of the musical cabaret Love Story which is currently showing at Sommerro hotel where she is poet-in-residence. She made her debut on Oslo’s theatrical scene with her poetry opera Shopping for God in February 2024 at Hos Arne. Her blend of spoken word, song and theatre harks back to The Belle Époque of cabaret in Paris, with her work also carrying a distinctly contemporary and therapeutic element written to help audiences “find their way back home” to themselves.
She previously trained as a digital anthropologist at University College London and worked as an academic at the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen.
Antoine is a Manager in the Technology Sustainability team in Deloitte Norway. Born and raised in Switzerland, he studied and started his career in London working with procurement, development and implementation of Enterprise solutions. He moved to Norway in 2022 and supported the development of technology sustainability service delivery at Deloitte Norway. His work focuses on calculating the impact of different technological areas on the environment and how to adequately report companies’ IT carbon emissions as well as facilitating the transformation of organisations’ technology operating models to better drive the strategic and reporting sustainability agenda.
Dr. Arvind Keprate earned his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (2007) from Himachal Pradesh University, an M.Sc. in Marine & Subsea Technology (2014), and a Ph.D. in Offshore Engineering (2017) from the University of Stavanger, Norway. During his Ph.D., he was a visiting researcher at NASA Ames, developing machine learning models for stress intensity prediction.
He is a Professor at OsloMet, teaching Machine Design, Process & Piping Design, and Sustainable Design, and also lectures on Machine Learning and Data Analytics at Kristiania University College. He leads the M3T Research Group and manages the GrønnMet lab.
With over 10 years of industry experience (Reliance Industries, DNV) as a pipeline engineer, his expertise includes fatigue analysis, asset integrity, and risk assessment. His research focuses on applying machine learning to condition monitoring, reliability modeling, and the prognostics of engineering systems, particularly wind farms.
Valerie Leung is a Strategic Advisor and Partner at Reodor Studios, and works at the crossroads of innovation and sustainability. She works with multinational companies and startups on their growth strategies in line with planet positivity and inclusivity. She has an MBA in sustainability and a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.
I am also the producer and host for the podcast, Modern Idealist, a podcast for career driven professionals who are looking to make an impact in their professional and personal lives. Modern Idealist explores topics inspired by the journey a stubborn optimist navigates in the search to live out ideals as a responsible world citizen.
Rajeev Lehar is the Founder and Investment Advisor at Lehar Holdings, dedicated to solving global challenges through expansive entrepreneurship. A serial entrepreneur and investor, he helps real estate professionals scale their portfolios and inspires others to think beyond limitations. Born an Indian Norwegian, Rajeev struggled to fit in. Influenced by his hardworking parents, risk-taking brother, and a teacher who saw his potential, he pursued flight training at 15. Though poor eyesight prevented him from becoming a pilot, he convinced the Norwegian Air Force to give him a chance, rising to Crew Chief on F-16s. Determined to advance, he worked tirelessly to earn degrees in aerospace engineering and technology management. He later co-founded an electric amphibious aircraft startup, entered corporate R&D, and built a successful real estate portfolio through automation and leadership. His online courses have empowered 7,000+ entrepreneurs, and he has shared global stages with Robert Kiyosaki, Randi Zuckerberg, and Calvin Klein. Rajeev believes in breaking barriers—cultural, educational, and mental—to achieve limitless success. His mission is to inspire expansive thinking, bold risk-taking, and visionary entrepreneurship to transform both lives and the world.
Natalia is a community builder, speaker, and founder passionate about creating spaces where ambitious, impact-driven founders thrive.
Originally from Slovakia and now based in Norway, she moved to Oslo three years ago with a vision to build something that matters. She went on to found WomanUp, a platform and movement that has connected over 10,000 female entrepreneurs through accelerator programs, events, and partnerships.
Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a Sigma Squared Fellow, and a Presidential Scholar at BI Norwegian Business School, Natalia has spoken at conferences like SHE Conference and Oslo Innovation Week, collaborated with the European Parliament on youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and served as a jury member at Entrepreneurship Avenue.
At her core, Natalia believes in building things that feel real, businesses with soul, communities with purpose, and spaces where founders can thrive.
is a textile designer, author, and sustainability advocate with a strong background in textiles, communication, and corporate social responsibility. She holds a degree in Public Relations and Communication Management from BI Norwegian Business School and formal training in traditional Norwegian folk costume making (bunadsopplæring) and studies in pedagogy from Østfold University College. Starting as a seamstress in the 1990s, she developed an early interest in fast fashion’s challenges. As a corporate communications advisor, she worked on environmental and social responsibility initiatives. As the founder of Helles Syskrin, she specializes in traditional garment restoration and knitwear design. She has authored two books on knitting, and lectures on textile sustainability, while teaching various textile and craft subjects.
Anette Miwa Dimmen is the founder and CEO of As We Are Now (AWAN), a regenerative and inter-generational fashion brand built on circular principles. With over a decade of experience in brand building, private label production, and creative strategy, Anette launched AWAN to solve fashion’s biggest paradox: a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. She’s a TEDx speaker and vocal advocate for female entrepreneurship and sustainability in fashion. Under her leadership, AWAN is building a circular, on-demand supply chain and a founder-led brand empowering women with products intentionally made for women, by women.
Anette Miwa Dimmen is the founder and CEO of As We Are Now (AWAN), a regenerative and inter-generational fashion brand built on circular principles. With over a decade of experience in brand building, private label production, and creative strategy, Anette launched AWAN to solve fashion’s biggest paradox: a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. She’s a TEDx speaker and vocal advocate for female entrepreneurship and sustainability in fashion. Under her leadership, AWAN is building a circular, on-demand supply chain and a founder-led brand empowering women with products intentionally made for women, by women.
Anamika Choudhury is a clinical embryologist with over 15 years of global experience in reproductive medicine. She has helped thousands of individuals and couples overcome fertility challenges and achieve pregnancy through IVF and assisted reproductive technologies. After completing her education at University College London, UK, her career took her across three continents, where she honed her expertise in advanced fertility treatments. Recognized as a trusted figure in Norway’s fertility space, Anamika played a pivotal role in building a state-of-the-art IVF laboratory in Oslo and currently serves as Lab Director there.
As the founder of Bonte Fertility, her mission is to shorten the path to pregnancy through personalized, transparent, and science-backed fertility solutions. By integrating AI-driven insights with expert guidance, she is transforming how individuals and couples navigate their fertility journey—ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.
Dr. Karishma Kuwelker is a psychiatry resident in Norway specializing in gender incongruence. With experience at the National Gender Incongruence Clinic, she has worked extensively in diagnosing, treating, and following up with patients navigating gender identity concerns—many of whom seek surgical interventions. Her clinical work offers a unique perspective on how medicine balances clinical necessity with human dignity and aesthetics. On this panel, she brings an engaging, patient-centered viewpoint, exploring the ethical complexities of surgical interventions in gender incongruence and beyond.
Arvid Bertheau Johannessen is Lead Human Spaceflight and Exploration at the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). He is Norwegian delegate to the European Space Agency’s Programme Board for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration (PB-HME), the ESA PB-HME Exploration and Utilisation Board and represents Norway in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). Before joining NOSA he worked with Telenor in the areas of satellite communication, mobile communication, product development, strategy and regulatory issues. He holds a M.Sc. degree from the Technical University of Delft, the Netherlands.
Øystein R. Borgersen is co-founder and CTO of SolSys Mining. With extensive experience in system engineering, process, and product design, Øystein brings broad knowledge and innovative thinking to the company. He has been instrumental in SolSys Mining’s space resource beneficiation and lunar regolith simulant production programs. Although most experienced in the fields of mining and minerals processing, he has also held various engineering and managerial positions across industries, ranging from additive manufacturing and hydropower to aerospace and defense. Øystein has a background in Mechatronics Systems Engineering and has furthered his expertise through the Space Studies Program at the International Space University. His career reflects a passion for innovation and a commitment to advancing technology.
Frequently asked questions related to the Summit:
The summit is specifically designed for English-speaking youth in Norway, including international students, expatriate youth, multicultural individuals, and young people who primarily communicate in English. We welcome participants aged 16-30 who are interested in personal development, cross-cultural networking, and community engagement.
No, it is 100% free! We are committed to making the Youth Equity Summit accessible, we have therefore decide to make the event entirely free!
Yes, the entire summit will be conducted in English to ensure accessibility for all participants. We understand the challenges faced by English-speaking youth in Norway and have designed the event to be fully inclusive for those who may not be fluent in Norwegian.
