Meet our Agile2023 Keynote Speakers

To view our ever-growing list of speakers and panelists, please click here

Bushra Amiwala

Anne-Marie Charrett

Esther Derby

Read more about our Keynote Speakers

Bushra Amiwala
Bushra Amiwala
Google
Solutions Consultant
Empowering People to Embrace Everyday Leadership

Bushra Amiwala is an award-winning activist, media icon, dynamic speaker and , and the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States.

At the age of 19, she announced her candidacy for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, with the goal to serve as a voice for her underrepresented generation and other marginalized communities. She has extensive experience and success in business strategy, customer service, branding, and organizational leadership across information technology, internet, non-profit organization management, primary & secondary education, business consulting & services, civic & social organizations, and government administration industries. She is empowering communities and breaking barriers and stands as a shining example of resilience and determination in her pursuit of positive change.

Her leadership has extended far beyond her campaign as she’s inspired countless others to increase their civic participation. As a result, she’s been named Glamour magazine’s College Woman of the Year, Seventeen magazine’s Voice of the Year, and internationally as CosmoGirl’s Change Maker of the Year. Bushra was awarded the Women’s Champion Award sponsored by the United Nations, has graced the cover of TIME magazine, and was recognized as Forbes Magazine’s “Woman to Watch” in 2021.

In addition to these awards, Bushra is the subject of an original PBS documentary called And She Could be Next, the female candidate on Amazon’s RUN the Series, has just debuted in a Hulu documentary called Our America: Women Forward, and she has made hundreds of TV and radio appearances, including outlets such as Fox, CBS, NPR, ABC, and PBS.

Bushra has spoken at countless colleges and universities, organizations and international companies, with live audiences ranging from 25 to 15,000 people. She is a recent graduate from DePaul University and serves on the Board of Directors of the Indo-American Democratic Organization (IADO), GenerationVote, Women Empowering Women in Illinois Legislation (WeWill) and SheVotesIL. She holds her elected seat on the Skokie Board of Education, as its youngest member, is a candidate at Kellogg, Northwestern School of Management pursuing her MBA part-time and continues to work as a Solutions Consultant at Google.

Anne-marie Charrett
Anne-marie Charrett
Testing Times
Agile Up Your Leadership Game

Anne-Marie Charrett is a renowned leader in the software testing industry, recognized for her agile capability and exceptional leadership skills. With over 20 years of experience, Anne-Marie is a sought-after speaker, author, and trainer who has made significant contributions to the field of engineering leadership.

Her "Quality Coach Book," an online book, is a testament to her thought leadership and expertise in Agile development. In 2022, Anne-Marie was awarded the prestigious EuroSTAR Software Testing Excellence Award, further highlighting her accomplishments in the industry.

In addition to her professional achievements, Anne-Marie has been a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, where she shared her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of engineering professionals. In 2014, she also a co-founded of Speak Easy Diversity, one of the first mentoring programs aimed at encouraging greater diversity at tech conferences.

Overall, Anne-Marie Charrett's leadership and agile capability have made her a highly respected figure in the software testing industry. Her contributions to the field, combined with her commitment to diversity and education, make her a true role model and inspiration to many.

Esther Derby
Esther Derby
Not The Same Old Retrospective Panel!
We are Leaders...At All Levels

Esther Derby draws on four decades of experience leading, observing, and living organizational change. She works with a broad array of organizations. Her clients include both startups and Fortune 500 companies. Based on experience and research, her approach blends attention to humans and deep knowledge of complex adaptive systems. Esther has been called one of the most influential voices within the agile communities when it comes to developing organizations, coaching teams, and transforming management. Her work over many years has influenced coaches and leaders across many companies.

To view our ever-growing list of speakers and panelists, please click here