The Art of Innovation Conference will cover a range of topics to engage the community in conversations centering changing sectors tech, healthcare and transportation industries.

Modern industries are continuously changing – particularly when it comes to technology – leaving students and professionals with an ability to consistently gain more knowledge.

California State University, Northridge aims to help future leaders enhance technology and entrepreneurship by engaging with current industry leaders at its fifth semi-annual Art of Innovation Conference on Friday Nov. 2.

The Art of Innovation Conference is expected to take place from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. in CSUN’s Grand Salon, located in the University Student Union on the east side of campus. The panel-style event will include networking and cover a broad range of trends and opportunities regarding 21st century entrepreneurship. Featured panels include big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, innovation in healthcare and the future of transportation.

“All of these are issues that affect us in our daily lives,” said Shereazad Jimmy Gandhi, CSUN professor of manufacturing systems engineering and management. “It’s not something that is interesting just for business or engineering. Big data and artificial intelligence are fields that all industries are involved with. Since we are in LA county, the future of transportation is also a key issue.”

The conference is hosted by the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Health and Human Development and the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics to gain perspectives of each college’s respective industries.

The conference will cover a range of topics, including big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, innovation in healthcare and the future of transportation.

To follow the diversity amongst industries, CSUN chose a broad range of entrepreneurs and business owners to discuss technology and entrepreneurship in today’s society.

Speakers include: Harry Sefton III, senior leader in Space, Platforms and Payloads at Boeing; Kimberly Sanders, director of global TV distribution at NBCUniversal; Ian Gardner, president at Chanje; Seyed Sajjadi, systems engineer, NASA JPL; Jeff Joyner, intellectual property attorney / gov’t affairs / Cleantech; Terenig Topjian, founder of Have A Go; Flaurel English, founder of Gridlock Solutions and an executive advisor to the Toyota Mobility Foundation; Rick Teebay, fleet & transportation specialist at the LA County Office of Sustainability; Dale Deardorff executive leadership & innovation consultant; Lou Rubino, health sciences department chair, CSUN; and Sal Esparza, associate professor of health science at CSUN.

“Innovation often occurs at the intersection of disciplines,” said Ryan Holbrook, entrepreneurship program director for the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. “Accordingly, we designed the conference to encourage attendees with different backgrounds and skills to connect, while learning about opportunities in new and emerging technologies from some of the top minds in those fields.”

Holbrook and Gandhi said they hope the Art of Innovation Conference can spark ideas for entrepreneurial ventures or interests and help build networks for all attendees.

Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information about the conference visit: www.csunaoi.com

To register for the Art of Innovation Conference visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-csun-art-of-innovation-conference-tickets-45864309384.

Art of Innovation Conference, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Health and Human Development, David Nazarian College of Business and Economics