Meet The Speakers

Previously a lecturer in Artificial Intelligence in University College Cork’s Computer Science Department, Alan specialized in Optimization, Game Theory and Algorithmic Mechanism Design. Alan founded Keelvar in September 2012 when he left the University to commercialize advances in AI for procurement teams.

Alan’s specialist knowledge in Optimization, Game Theory and Mechanism Design gives Keelvar an edge in terms of innovating with offerings that exceed competitors’ technical capabilities. This enables Keelvar to define an entirely new category of the solution, putting Keelvar in an ideal position to lead this new category that Keelvar has called Autonomous Sourcing.

Winning the Cork Company of the Year in the small company category in Keelvar’s first year, and moving on to be awarded a Gartner Cool vendor award more recently has highlighted Keelvar’s international progress.

“We are transforming a space that has a huge potential to impact the lives of everyone on the planet. Our customers manage over €90bn in spend annually using our software so we are excited about how Artificial Intelligence can transform how suppliers engage with big business for win-win outcomes.”

A results-driven strategic sourcing and procurement mentor and leader | Leading collaborative, cross functional teams, helping my customers remove risk and deliver transformational results and making a difference for those customers, my stakeholders and leadership across a wide variety of financial services, manufacturing and service businesses and organizations, every day.

David W. Tollen is one of the industry’s leading authorities on software licenses and cloud computing agreements. He is the author of the America Bar Association’s bestseller, The Tech Contracts Handbook: Cloud Computing Agreements, Software Licenses, and Other IT Contracts for Lawyers and Businesspeople. And he is an attorney, expert witness, and instructor at the U.C. Berkeley Law School.

David provides training on IT contract drafting and negotiation through a company he founded, Tech Contracts Academy, LLC (https://TechContracts.com/). He teaches both public and in-house classes for lawyers, contracts managers, and other businesspeople. David also practices law with Sycamore Legal, P.C. (https://SycamoreLegal.com/), a San Francisco law firm he founded. He and his attorneys represent buyers and sellers in contracts about cloud computing, software licensing, and other IT relationships. They also advise on intellectual property and privacy. David’s training and legal clients range include some of the best-known and influential companies in the world.

David’s work as an expert witness involves litigation about IT contracts. And in his role at U.C. Berkeley Law School, he teaches IT contract drafting and negotiation.

Stephany Lapierre is the Founder and CEO of Tealbook. A lifelong entrepreneur, Stephany spent 10 years building a successful strategic sourcing and procurement consulting firm and it sparked her desire to solve the supplier data problem. Stephany is passionate about establishing the gold standard for supplier data and making it accessible to every large organization, which is why TealBook’s Supplier Data Platform automates the collection, verification, and enrichment of supplier data across any data lake or enterprise system. TealBook is a leader in procurement technology and has been chosen by Spend Matters as one of their "50 Vendors to Know," named a top 100 solution by ProcureTech, and recognized as a "Cool Vendor" by Gartner.

A highly-coveted supply chain thought leader, Stephany has  been recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Supply Chain. Outside of work, you can find Stephany spending time with her husband and three daughters, and keeping active on the ski hill or in a pilates studio

Paul Malott is an accomplished author, entrepreneur, and procurement expert dedicated to transforming businesses through innovation and strategic leadership. As the Founder and CEO of Sourceflo.ai, a cutting-edge Supplier Relationship Management system, and PM&Co. Consulting & Automations, Paul specializes in delivering AI-driven solutions that streamline sourcing, supplier management, and operational efficiency for businesses of all sizes.

In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Paul serves as a Subject Matter Expert at GEP, where he provides thought leadership in Direct Materials Management, leveraging his extensive expertise in procurement strategy. Currently pursuing his Doctorate in Business Strategy with a focus on AI Implementation at the University of Michigan - Flint, Paul is at the forefront of exploring how AI can reshape procurement and business operations.
Paul’s career includes leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies like General Motors, TRW (now ZF), and Harman International. Specializing in new product introduction in the automotive industry, he has successfully navigated complex global supply chains, driven cost savings, and championed innovative approaches to sourcing and supplier engagement. As an author and thought leader, Paul’s mission is to empower businesses with the tools and strategies needed to embrace the future of procurement. His work bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical, human-centered solutions, making him a sought-after voice in the intersection of technology, strategy, and procurement.

Explore his ventures at pmcoautomation.com and sourceflo.ai to learn more about his vision for the future of business automation and supplier relationship management.

Melissa Drew has 27 years of business & digital transformation and 17 years working with cognitive technologies. At IBM she works to reimagine digital transformation strategies and analytics using cognitive technologies to create a better informed, decision-based organization.

Recognized as a global speaker, instructor, and creative disruptor, Melissa is a visionary to how we can stay ahead of our constantly changing global landscape. She has been recognized for multiple industry awards for exceptional performance, leadership, & influence. She is a frequent speaker (domestic & international) for conferences and fortune 50 companies.

Melissa embodies the key characteristics that set her apart from other consultants: integrity, relationship (trusted advisor), value-driven, self-awareness, and sharing knowledge & mentoring the next generation.