Summit Agenda & Confirmed Speakers
An Afternoon of Leadership and Conversation
12:30 PM - Industry Networking Lunch
1:45 PM - Keynote - KIRA POLLACK
Global Jury Chair, World Press Photo 2026 | Two-time Emmy Award Winner | Time • Vanity Fair • NYT Magazine
From Archives to Insight: How Responsible AI Can Preserve, Authenticate, and Unlock the World’s Visual History
Artificial intelligence is often discussed as a disruptive force, but it also has the potential to become one of the most powerful tools for preserving and understanding our visual history. In this fireside conversation, Kira Pollack will explore how AI can responsibly support the preservation, authentication, and discovery of photographic archives while protecting authorship, context, and trust. Drawing on her work at the intersection of visual journalism, emerging technology, and cultural preservation, this discussion will examine how innovation can help unlock the stories hidden within the world's visual media collections and set the stage for the conversations that follow throughout the Summit.
This will be a hybrid moderated discussion and keynote presentation.
Moderated by Leslie Hughes, iSPY Technologies and DMLA’s Executive Director.
2:30 PM - Leading Through Transformation: Leadership in the Changing Digital Media Ecosystem
The digital media industry is evolving faster than ever before. This leadership discussion explores how executives are navigating AI, changing business models, trust, authenticity, and emerging technologies while preparing their organizations for the future. Bringing together perspectives from media, technology, AI, and content organizations, the conversation will focus on what effective leadership looks like during a period of unprecedented transformation.
Confirmed Panelists:
Stefano De Alessandri, CEO & MD, ANSA News Agency
Kristin Heitmann, Global Chief Revenue Officer - The Associated Press
Steve Jones, CEO, pocstock
Mikayel Khachatryan, CEO - Wirestock
Frederic Sanuy, CEO - Activo - Owner DAM News
This will be a moderated discussion.
Moderated by Joe Naylor, CEO Imagerights and DMLA’s Board President.
3:30 PM - Building an AI Ecosystem We Can Trust
Artificial intelligence has created tremendous opportunity, but its long-term success depends on trust, collaboration, and responsible innovation. Leaders will explore how we build an AI ecosystem that benefits creators, publishers, platforms, and consumers alike. Topics will include licensing, copyright, provenance, metadata, attribution, emerging standards, and the collaborative frameworks needed to support the future of digital media.
Confirmed Panelists:
Yair Adato, CEO, Bria AI
Ruha Devanesan, Head of Images & Media Partnerships - Google Search
Mounir Ibrahim, Chief Communications Officer & Head of Public Affairs and Impact, Truepic
Yonah Levenson, Co-Founder/Instructor - Rutgers DAM Certificate
Program, Language Metadata Table Chair (prev. HBO, Warner Media, Pearson Ed)Paul Melcher, Founder - Melcher Systems, Strategic Partnerships, IMATAG
Eric Wengrowski, Founder & CEO - Steg AI
This will be a moderated discussion.
Moderated by Mark Milstein, CEO Microstock Solutions and DMLA’s Technology Committee Chairperson.
4:30 PM - The Next 75 Years - Moderated/interactive roundtables
Rather than ending with another panel discussion, this interactive session invites attendees and industry leaders to explore the specific topics that will shape the future of digital media.
Moderated roundtables will be designed to encourage participation—attendees will exchange ideas, share perspectives, and identify the priorities that should guide our industry over the next few years and beyond. The goal is not simply to reflect on where we've been, but to begin defining where we go next, together.
These will be moderated round table discussions with a facilitator at each table.
Opportunities, Challenges and ideas for the future will be presented.
5:30 - 8:00 PM - 75th Anniversary Reception
Continue the conversation as we celebrate 75 years of DMLA and the people who have shaped our industry.
