Farid has a deep passion for applying innovative technology to solve real world problems. His professional journey began 23 years ago as a software engineer designing and building mission critical software for the aerospace industry at companies such as Allied Signal Aerospace, Canadian Marconi, Spar Aerospace and Lockheed Martin. His projects included control software for the pneumatic and bleed air systems for the Boeing 7x7 and MD11 aircrafts, GPS sensor unit for the Boeing 777 aircraft, and joint electronic unit for the Canadarm1.

For his next challenge in the late 90's, he spent time honing his entrepreneurial skills with three different software start-ups in the telecom and financial services sectors helping them transform napkin ideas into commercial product offerings, building and growing each one into successful businesses.

As an entrepreneur, while he currently focuses his attention on driving technology innovation in the healthcare industry with information management, data analytics and decision support solutions, he makes no secret about that the fact that he loves anything to do with data and innovation in the Big Data space.

Farid is an avid soccer fan, active advisor and angel investor in emerging software start-ups.

Educated in business, technology, and design, Alkarim's career in emerging technology started at Research in Motion (Blackberry) in 2004, putting him on the path to founding one of Canada's fastest growing innovation companies and becoming a trusted thought leader in Toronto's technology industry. Under his leadership, BNOTIONS was ranked as one of Canada's Top New Growth Companies on the Profit 50 list in both 2012 and 2013, and was featured as a Branham 300 Top Technology Company for 2013 and 2014. Recent personal awards and accolades include: 2013 Finalist E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Marketing Magazine Canada's Top 30 Under 30 marketers.

Alkarim endeavours to share his passion for all things digital with the larger tech community. With education and outreach a cornerstone of his philosophy, he co-founded the learning facility Yorkville Media Centre and created two of Canada's most successful open-source technology events, AndroidTO and jQueryTO. Additionally, Alkarim sits on the board of advisors at CYBF GEW and is an active angel investor in local startups.

Alkarim is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at venture-backed mobile marketing start-up, Gallop Labs. Gallop Labs was incubated and spun out from BNOTIONS.

Julielynn Wong, MD, MPH, is a Harvard-educated, award-winning physician, innovator, and communicator.

Dr. Wong is a public health physician who has conducted medical research at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, and the Mars Desert Research Station. She is a graduate of the International Space University and trained in space medicine at NASA Johnson Space Center with funding support from the Canadian Space Agency.

Miss Wong founded 3D4MD, which creates 3D printable medical supplies to deliver healthcare in the most challenging places to those who need it the most. Dr. Wong has reported for ABC World News, Forbes and the Huffington Post, and made numerous television appearances, including an Emmy-nominated series on Discovery Channel.

Dr. Wong proposed the "3D AstroMed Devices" Challenge, which was launched globally this year. She is thrilled to be a judge for the 2015 Toronto Space Apps Challenge event.

Ari is a User Experience Architect at Lab49 in New York City. He has made it his mission to share design knowledge and bring designers and developers closer together. When he's not working on a sketch or wireframe, Ari can be found playing pinball or eating ramen.

He has worked for more than 20 years in the Canadian aerospace industry beginning with the Canadian Space Station Program at Spar Aerospace Limited, later acquired by MDA Space Missions, before joining MSCI in 2007. He has worked on the design of sensors; space robotic systems and architectures and advanced technology; and variable-autonomy ground control solutions for space robotic systems that is currently used on the space station. This work has included the Canadarm2 and Dextre space robotic system currently in operation on the International Space Station, the Canadarm Shuttle Manipulator System, and the history-making Orbital Express Manipulator System that flew in 2007. He most recently led the NEOSSat Microsatellite Program funded jointly by the Canadian Space Agency and Defense Research and Development Canada and which successfully launched in 2013. He received his degrees from the University of Toronto, where he is also currently engaged in several engineering courses as a course coordinator and as a regular guest lecturer. He is a member of the IEEE, OSPE and PEO. Mr. Gillett is one of the 1999 recipients of the PEO Medal for Engineering Excellence.