We’re proud to introduce the Microelectronics US 2026 Advisory Board – a cross-industry group of leaders helping shape the direction and content of next year’s landmark event in Austin, Texas (22–23 April 2026).

Together, they bring insight from across design, manufacturing, research and strategy – ensuring the agenda mirrors the real challenges and opportunities shaping the US microelectronics landscape.

As we build toward Microelectronics US 2026, this diverse Advisory Board will ensure the event reflects the priorities, innovation and partnerships driving America’s microelectronics future.

 The Advisory Board

Florian Kaesen - Director, Value Chain Integration – Intel

"The semiconductor industry has reached another pivot point, and I am excited to participate in this event and discuss the implications and how America can strengthen and extend its technological leadership in this area."

Florian Kaesen serves as Intel’s Director of Value Chain Integration, leading digital transformation across global supply chain operations. With extensive experience spanning design, testing, product engineering, and quality management, Florian’s focus is on driving efficiency and collaboration across Intel’s semiconductor ecosystem. Based in Munich, he brings both deep technical insight and strategic perspective to the challenges of modern semiconductor manufacturing.

Ekaterina Golovchenko – Senior Director, PLM Subsea, Nokia

Dr. Ekaterina Golovchenko leads Nokia’s global subsea solutions strategy, helping operators expand and modernize their networks to meet rising bandwidth demands and AI-driven capacity needs. With deep expertise in telecommunications, photonics, and customer relations, she plays a key role in shaping the next generation of high-performance subsea systems.

Robert Quinn – Founder, Quinn’s Media

"The semiconductor industry runs on relationships and trust—it's fundamentally a face-to-face business. Events like Microelectronics US are invaluable because they bring together the people actually making decisions and solving problems on the ground. The topics I'm most interested in seeing addressed are supply chain resilience, the practical realities of US manufacturing expansion, and Workforce Solutions."

Robert Quinn is the Founder of Quinn’s Media and the LinkedIn Semiconductor Industry Ambassador, known for his clear and data-driven coverage of the global chip economy. A veteran engineer and industry commentator, he hosts the Semiconductor Industry Technology & News podcast and produces Quinn’s Semiconductor News, offering analysis from major industry events . His mission: to connect fab-floor realities with boardroom decisions through fast, factual insight.

Aubree Slavik - DEI Programme Administrator – Optoelectronics Research Centre, Cornerstone

Aubree is a leading advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion across photonics and research innovation. At CORNERSTONE, she drives initiatives that expand access to career development, education, and public engagement – ensuring that the next generation of photonics innovation is open and inclusive to all.

Shaun Viola - Systems Engineer – MBDA

"Microelectronics brings together a wide collection of knowledge and expertise on photonics technology. The event is great for getting valuable perspectives on relevant technology, institutional motivations and direction, as well as a great networking opportunity."

Dr. Shaun Viola is a systems engineer at MBDA with a strong background in optical communications and imaging technology. After earning his PhD from the University of Glasgow, he contributed groundbreaking research in photonics, publishing in journals such as Physical Review Letters and Photonics Research. Today, Shaun applies his expertise to the development of advanced optical and laser systems in the defence sector, combining physics and engineering to push the boundaries of optical innovation.

Ariful Haque - Assistant Professor – Texas State University

“I’m honored to serve on the advisory board for Microelectronics US 2026. This event unites leaders from policy, academia, and industry to shape the future of semiconductor technology. I’m particularly excited to contribute to discussions on global supply chains and workforce development aligned with the CHIPS and Science Act.”

Dr. Ariful Haque is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Texas State University and a core faculty member of the Materials Science, Engineering & Commercialization PhD program. A former Technology Development Engineer at Intel, his research spans semiconductor device fabrication, nanoengineering, and materials science. With over 60 peer-reviewed publications and global conference presentations, Dr. Haque’s work continues to advance the frontiers of semiconductor design and innovation.

Murajith Muraleedharan - Director of Portfolio Management & Digitisation Strategy – Honeywell

Murajith is an accomplished innovation and product-strategy leader with over 20 years in industrial automation and energy technologies. He has guided multiple digital and IoT solutions from concept to market, holds two patents, and is passionate about workforce development through his work with the International Federation of Professional Trainers.

Umar Shah - Principal Semiconductor Industry Leader – AWS

Umar is a seasoned technology executive leading global strategy, business development, and cloud solutions for electronics and EDA at AWS. With nearly three decades of Silicon Valley experience at Apple, Cadence, and Mentor Graphics, he bridges technical innovation and commercial strategy across the semiconductor value chain, helping C-suite leaders apply AI and cloud computing to the challenges of modern chip design.

🔍 Why the Advisory Board Matters

The Advisory Board will play a key role in shaping:

• The core themes and stage agendas for 2026

• Speaker selection and content alignment across the value chain

• Discussions that connect design, manufacturing, and application at every level

Their combined expertise will ensure that Microelectronics US 2026 delivers practical, forward-looking insight for everyone building, testing, and deploying advanced electronic systems.

🌎 What to Expect in Austin

📅 22–23 April 2026
📍 Austin, Texas
🎟️ Special Launch Offer: The first 500 people to pre-register will be invited to join our exclusive VIP list – gaining access to premium networking opportunities and additional on-site benefits.

Join 5,000+ professionals from semiconductors, photonics, and embedded systems for two days of collaboration, content, and connections. Expect 100+ speakers, 150+ exhibitors, and a program designed to accelerate innovation and industry growth under the CHIPS & Science Act.

🎟️ Secure your place early – join the community shaping the future of US microelectronics.

👉 Pre-register your interest →